Dubai Welcomes 8.68 Million Tourists in First Five Months of 2025
Dubai Tourism Continues Upward Trend in 2025 with 8.68 Million Visitors in Five Months
Dubai’s tourism sector is off to a strong start in 2025, welcoming 8.68 million international visitors between January and May—marking a 7% increase compared to 8.12 million visitors during the same period in 2024.
According to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), May 2025 alone saw 1.53 million visitors, showing the city’s sustained appeal as a global travel destination. This growth builds on Dubai’s record-setting year in 2024, when the city hosted 18.72 million tourists.
Top Source Markets
Western Europe led with 1.917 million tourists (22% of total visitors).
Russia, Eastern Europe, and CIS countries followed with 1.396 million visitors (16%).
South Asia recorded 1.242 million visitors.
GCC nations brought in 1.275 million tourists (15%).
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) added 989,000 visitors.
Northeast and Southeast Asia contributed 771,000 arrivals.
The Americas brought in 601,000 visitors.
Africa saw 346,000 tourists.
Australia sent 141,000 travelers (approx. 2% of total).
Dubai Hotels Show Strong Performance
The hotel industry in Dubai also reported positive growth during this period:
825 hotels with 153,356 rooms were operational by May 2025, up from 822 hotels with 150,202 rooms in 2024.
Occupancy rate rose to 83%, compared to 81% last year.
Total occupied room nights reached 19.09 million, up 4% from 2024’s 18.34 million.
Average stay duration remained steady at 3.8 nights.
Average Daily Rate (ADR) increased by 5% to AED620, from AED590 in 2024.
Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) rose by 7% to AED513, up from AED478.
2024 Recap: A Record Year for Tourism
In 2024, Dubai hosted 18.72 million international overnight guests, a 9% year-over-year growth over the 17.15 million recorded in 2023. By the end of 2024:
Hotel inventory reached 154,016 rooms across 832 hotels.
ADR stood at AED538, slightly higher than AED536 in 2023.
RevPAR rose to AED421, a 2% increase from AED415.
Dubai’s consistent expansion of hotel inventory, combined with its appeal to a diverse range of tourists, continues to solidify its reputation as a leading global tourism hub.
