Dubai’s tourism sector continues to strengthen its contribution to the local economy, supported by ongoing improvement in hotel performance indicators, according to the latest data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, which is participating in the 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market 2026, taking place from September 14 to 17 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The sector’s performance from the beginning of the year through August reflects the strength of Dubai’s tourism ecosystem, the effectiveness of its local and international partnerships, and the diversity of the markets in which the emirate has expanded its presence over recent years in cooperation with partners and relevant stakeholders.
The results also underline growing confidence in Dubai as a preferred global tourism destination, at a time when the sector continues to invest in developing tourism products and experiences and raising the quality of services offered to visitors. The remaining months of 2026 are also set to feature a wide range of events and experiences designed to enhance the emirate’s appeal and provide visitors with more opportunities to explore and enjoy the city.
869,000 International Visitors to Dubai in August
Dubai welcomed around 869,000 international visitors in August 2026, while continuing to record double-digit growth since March, making August the strongest month for international visitor numbers since February 2026.
This brought the total number of international visitors to Dubai during the first eight months of the year to 6.97 million.
The performance reflects sustained demand for travel to the emirate and Dubai’s ability to attract visitors from a broad range of markets, supported by its diverse tourism offerings, advanced infrastructure, extensive air connectivity, and wide selection of experiences across entertainment, hospitality, culture, and dining.
Continued Improvement in Dubai Hotel Occupancy
Dubai’s hotel occupancy rate reached 66 percent in August, equivalent to 89 percent of the occupancy level recorded in August 2025, continuing a clear upward trend from the 36 percent recorded in March 2026.
The improvement is another indicator of sustained demand and the strength of Dubai’s hospitality sector, as a number of hotel properties continue to carry out large-scale renovation projects aimed at enhancing the guest experience and preparing for the next stage of growth.
Dubai’s hotel capacity stood at around 149,000 rooms by the end of August, while hotels across the emirate recorded 21.61 million occupied room nights during the first eight months of the year, highlighting the scale of activity that the hospitality sector continues to generate.
Western Europe Leads Dubai’s Tourism Source Markets
Dubai continued to attract visitors from a diverse mix of major international markets between January and August 2026.
Western Europe topped the list of source markets, accounting for 20 percent of total visitors, followed by South Asia at 17 percent and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at 16 percent. The Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe accounted for 14 percent.
This geographical distribution reflects the diversity of Dubai’s visitor base and supports the efforts of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and its partners to attract more travelers from both established key markets and promising markets with greater potential for future growth.
Tourism Supports the Goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33
The tourism sector’s growing performance is aligned with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to strengthen the emirate’s position as a leading global destination for business and leisure, support economic growth, and enhance Dubai’s readiness for the future.
Tourism continues to play a central role in driving activity across a wide range of related sectors, from hotels, aviation, and transportation to restaurants, retail, events, and tourist attractions.
The continued expansion of tourism offerings and services also supports Dubai’s ability to broaden its visitor base and attract different categories of travelers throughout the year.
Issam Kazim: Results Reflect the Strength of Tourism Partnerships
His Excellency Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “Dubai continues to consolidate the strength of its economy and the competitiveness of its development model, while the performance of the tourism sector reflects the directives of our wise leadership to continue the journey of achievement and reinforce the emirate’s position as a leading global destination. The results achieved by the sector reflect the integration of efforts among our local and international partners across the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as members of the community who contribute to enriching the visitor experience and showcasing Dubai’s renowned hospitality, cultural diversity, and renewed vibrancy. We are proud of the sector’s performance over recent months as Dubai continues to welcome increasing numbers of international visitors, supported by the diversity of its source markets, advanced infrastructure, a world-class hospitality ecosystem, and innovative tourism experiences that enhance its appeal and support the sustainable growth of the sector and its contribution to the emirate’s economy.”
His Excellency added: “Arabian Travel Market represents an important platform for building on this progress and continuing to support the growth of the tourism sector. It also gives us the opportunity to meet our partners from around the world, gain a better understanding of trends in the markets in which they operate, and work with them to capitalize on available opportunities. At this stage, we are focused on continuing to strengthen our close cooperation with our partners, increasing demand across both established key markets and promising markets, and developing distinctive offerings and experiences that encourage more visitors to choose Dubai as their destination. The strength of the foundations supporting the tourism sector, together with genuine partnerships, reinforces our confidence in the sector’s outlook as we look ahead to the remainder of 2026 and beyond, with the goal of achieving further accomplishments.”
Arabian Travel Market Supports Growth Plans
The 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market 2026 is being held with the participation of leading members of the global travel and tourism community, at a time when the sector is focused on strengthening demand, identifying new growth opportunities, and deepening relationships with partners and key stakeholders.
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is using its participation in the exhibition to enhance cooperation with hospitality partners and promote Dubai, its tourism offerings, and its experiences across target markets, helping to reinforce the emirate’s position as a preferred global destination.
The department is participating alongside more than 115 exhibitors representing different parts of Dubai’s tourism ecosystem, including hotel groups, tourist attractions, destination management companies, aviation partners, and government entities.
This broad participation reflects the strength of public-private sector cooperation that continues to support Dubai’s tourism strategy and showcase the range of services and experiences available to visitors.
Hosting 300 Travel Professionals From More Than 40 Countries
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is hosting more than 300 international travel professionals from over 40 countries as part of the Arabian Travel Market hosted buyers program.
The program gives buyers who promote Dubai and market its tourism experiences the opportunity to become more familiar with the destination, meet key tourism stakeholders, and explore the latest offerings, experiences, and tourism products.
It also helps expand partners’ knowledge of Dubai’s evolving tourism landscape and strengthens their ability to market the emirate more effectively across international markets.
Diverse Experiences to Attract New Visitor Segments
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and its partners are showcasing a broad range of the emirate’s strengths and tourism offerings during Arabian Travel Market, including hospitality, gastronomy, culture, entertainment, wellness, accessibility, sustainability, and family experiences.
Dubai’s priorities for 2026 also include continuing to strengthen its presence in international markets while developing more accessible and inclusive tourism experiences that meet the needs of different visitor segments, including People of Determination with autism and sensory needs.
The emirate is also continuing to advance initiatives including Dubai Sustainable Tourism and Dubai Can, as part of a broader strategy aimed at supporting sustainable growth while maintaining the quality of the visitor experience.
Throughout 2026, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism has continued its efforts to reach international audiences and reinforce the city’s position as a leading tourism destination through ongoing engagement with partners in the global travel and tourism sectors, participation in exhibitions and roadshows in target markets, international campaigns, and partnerships across major source markets.
“Dubai, Who’s Ready?” Initiative Strengthens the Role of Residents
Dubai’s tourism promotion efforts during 2026 also included the “Dubai, Who’s Ready?” initiative, which enabled residents of the emirate, representing around 200 nationalities, to invite relatives and friends to experience the city.
The initiative received more than 90,000 applications from residents who invited family members and friends to visit Dubai and benefit from the initiative’s various advantages.
The initiative highlights the important role residents can play as ambassadors for Dubai around the world, while also helping the emirate maintain a strong presence in the minds of international audiences, strengthen ties with key markets, and encourage more travelers to visit.
Economic Support for Tourism and Hospitality Sectors
The Government of Dubai had also launched an exceptional AED 2.5 billion economic support package aimed at providing direct support to the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment sectors.
The measure was introduced in response to geopolitical developments seen around the world during the earlier part of the year, which affected the global travel industry, including through higher fuel costs.
At the same time, Dubai was able to quickly restore its global connectivity across international destinations, supported primarily by Emirates, which resumed 97 percent of its worldwide network.
Dubai International Airport also continued to record a noticeable improvement in flight occupancy rates, bringing them closer to the levels recorded in 2025.
