Dubai Department Of Economy And Tourism Conducts First City Briefing Of 2025 To Enhance Tourism Growth

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) recently hosted its inaugural City Briefing for 2025 at the Coca-Cola Arena. This bi-annual event is a crucial platform for stakeholder engagement, drawing over 1,300 leaders from hospitality, aviation, retail, and F&B sectors. The gathering emphasised collaboration between public and private sectors to boost Dubai's tourism performance.

During the briefing, Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), highlighted the city's remarkable achievements in tourism. "Building on yet another record-breaking performance in 2024, the exceptional results achieved by the industry so far in 2025 is a testament to the resilience and steadfast support of our stakeholders and partners," he stated.

Key initiatives were discussed at the event, including Dubai's recognition as the first Certified Autism Destination™ in the Eastern Hemisphere. This achievement was made possible through DET's partnership with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Over 70,000 individuals have been trained in autism awareness through this initiative.

The launch of "MyDubai Communities" digital platform was another highlight. Introduced in April, it aims to strengthen community ties by offering access to over 100 interest-based communities. This platform promotes values of tolerance and coexistence among residents and visitors alike.

Dubai welcomed 7.15 million international overnight visitors from January to April 2025, marking a 7% year-on-year increase. This growth builds on the 18.72 million visitors recorded in 2024. The city continues to attract tourists with its diverse offerings and strategic global campaigns.

The "Find Your Story" campaign launched by DET features Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi. It showcases Dubai’s unique attractions like desert landscapes and futuristic architecture, even during short stopovers. Another campaign, "Dubai. That’s How You Summer," positions Dubai as a top summer destination.

Culinary Scene Expansion

Dubai's culinary scene is rapidly expanding, as evidenced by the fourth edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai released last month. The guide now includes 119 restaurants across 35 cuisines, up from 106 in 2024. Notably, it features Dubai’s first MICHELIN three-starred restaurants: FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio.

The guide also lists three two-starred restaurants, fourteen one-starred establishments, twenty-two Bib Gourmand venues, and three Green Star recipients. These additions reflect Dubai’s growing reputation as a global culinary hub.

Festivals Driving Tourism

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), emphasised the importance of festivals in driving tourism. He noted that events like Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) are vital for boosting visitation while supporting key economic pillars such as retail and hospitality.

This year's DSS will run from June 27th to August 31st with a vibrant calendar featuring sales events like Summer Holiday Offers, The Great Summer Sale, and Back to School promotions aimed at engaging consumers throughout summer.

The briefing concluded with a call for stakeholders to maintain their momentum through continued partnerships throughout the year. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of DET was present during these discussions which provided updates on tourism performance along with strategic priorities for upcoming months.

With inputs from WAM