Dubai Records 16.79 Million International Tourists In First 11 Months Of 2024

Dubai experienced a surge in international tourism, welcoming 16.79 million visitors from January to November 2024. This marks a 9% increase compared to the same period in 2023, which saw 15.37 million tourists. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism's report highlights this growth, with November alone attracting 1.83 million international tourists.

Western Europe emerged as the leading source region for tourists to Dubai, contributing 20% of the total visitors with 3.298 million tourists. South Asia followed closely, accounting for 17% with 2.858 million tourists. The GCC countries ranked third, providing over 2.5 million tourists or 15% of the total visitors.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe contributed significantly as well, sending 2.353 million tourists, making up 14% of the total visitor count. The Middle East and North Africa region accounted for 12%, with 1.933 million tourists visiting Dubai during this period.

North East and South East Asia collectively accounted for a 10% share, bringing in 1.622 million visitors to Dubai. Meanwhile, the Americas contributed to 7% of the total tourist numbers with approximately 1,117 visitors during these months.

Africa sent around 791,000 visitors, representing about 5% of the total international arrivals in Dubai. Australia contributed approximately 319,000 visitors, which accounted for about 2% of the overall tourist numbers during this timeframe.

Hotel Industry Growth and Accommodation Details

By November's end, Dubai had expanded its hospitality sector to include 153,390 hotel rooms across 828 establishments. This is an increase from November last year when there were 149,685 rooms in 820 establishments.

The number of hotel rooms booked over these months exceeded last year's figures by reaching over 39.19 million bookings—a rise of about 3%. In comparison, there were around 38.01 million bookings during the same period in the previous year.

Accommodation Types and Pricing Trends

The city offered a diverse range of accommodations: five-star hotels provided about 53,977 rooms across 168 establishments—35% of all hotel rooms available in Dubai. Four-star hotels offered another significant portion with approximately 43,345 rooms spread across various properties.

Hotels rated between one and three stars had around 29,701 rooms available within their establishments. Luxury hotel apartments added another dimension with about 13,944 rooms available across different locations while mid-level hotel apartments offered around12,423rooms.

Average Rates and Revenue Metrics

The average daily rate (ADR) for hotel stays was AED520 during these months—an increase of about2% compared to AED510 last year at this time frame while revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose by3%, reaching AED405 compared to AED394 previously recorded last year.

This data underscores Dubai's continued appeal as a global tourist destination while highlighting its robust hospitality sector growth amidst increasing international interest throughout2024.

With inputs from WAM