Summary: Dubai recorded 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, a 5% increase from 18.72 million in 2024, with December 2025 the first month to exceed 2 million visitors.

Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) reported that the city received 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025. This represents a 5% rise over the 18.72 million arrivals recorded in 2024 and marks the third year in a row that Dubai has posted a record for international visitation. The primary headline — Dubai international visitors 2025 — underscores the city's sustained recovery and growth in inbound tourism.

Monthly records and peak months

DET highlighted December 2025 as a milestone month: it was the first time any month exceeded 2 million international overnight arrivals, with 2.04 million visitors — a 6% increase compared with December 2024. The previous single-month high had been January 2025, when 1.94 million international visitors arrived.

Guided by visionary leadership, Dubai’s record international visitation is a testament to global confidence in the destination and the effectiveness of policies aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, as well as the collective strength of partnerships across sectors and communities that defines our city. As we look forward, our priorities will be to continue enhancing Dubai’s global competitiveness through digital innovation and providing exceptional guest experiences at every touchpoint, with powerful momentum after surpassing the 2 million figure for a single month in December for the first time. In partnership with stakeholders across the public and sectors, we remain dedicated to sustained investment in capacity, infrastructure development, and initiatives to make Dubai the world’s best city to visit, live and work in.

Visitor source markets

  • Western Europe: 4.10 million visitors (21%)
  • CIS and Eastern Europe: 2.89 million (15%)
  • South Asia: 2.89 million (15%)
  • GCC: 2.99 million (15%)
  • MENA (excluding GCC): 2.17 million (11%)
  • North East & South East Asia: 1.85 million (9%)
  • Americas: 1.40 million (7%)
  • Africa: 897,000 (5%)
  • Australasia: 401,000 (2%)
Tourists exploring Dubai Marina and waterfront hotels reflecting Dubai tourism growth
Dubai's hotels, attractions and events helped drive record international visitation in 2025

Tourism's economic contribution and hotel performance

Tourism and hospitality continued to support Dubai’s economic goals under the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. Data from Financial Times Ltd’s 'fDi Markets' showed hotels and tourism made up 21.3% of estimated FDI capital flows into Dubai in the first half of 2025.

  • Hotel inventory (end of December 2025): 154,264 rooms across 827 establishments
  • Average hotel occupancy: 80.7% (up from 78.2% in 2024)
  • Occupied room nights: 44.85 million (up 4%)
  • Average length of stay: 3.7 nights
  • Average daily rate (ADR): AED579 (up 8% from AED538)
  • RevPAR: AED467 (up 11% from AED421)

Incentives, innovation and recognitions

DET introduced a Hotel Incentive Programme in October 2025 to encourage development in fast-growing areas such as Dubai South, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Parks and Dubai Islands. In December, the city rolled out a one-time contactless hotel guest check-in solution to simplify arrivals across hotels and holiday homes.

Dubai also received several global accolades in 2025, including recognition as the first Certified Autism Destination in the Eastern Hemisphere and top-ten placement in Numbeo’s Safety Index by City. A study by InsureMyTrip named Dubai the world’s best city for solo female travellers.

  • World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 included three Dubai properties: Atlantis The Royal (No.6), Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab (No.20) and The Lana Dubai (No.35)
  • The first MICHELIN Key hotels in the Middle East named 13 Dubai hotels awarded keys and 34 selected for high-quality stays
  • Dubai International (DXB) remained the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for the 11th consecutive year (24.2 million in Q3 2025; 70.1 million in the first nine months)

Sustainability and future infrastructure plans

Sustainability projects gathered pace in 2025: 153 hotels received the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp (up from 70), Dubai Can expanded refill stations cutting 42.7 million single-use plastic bottles and dispensing over 21.3 million litres of water, and the DUBAI REEF project reported more than 68% of reef modules fabricated with 47% deployed by year-end.

Looking ahead, Dubai plans continued infrastructure investment including expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport and construction of the Dubai Metro Blue Line, alongside ongoing delivery of the D33 Agenda and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan to support long-term growth.

What this means for travelers and the industry

So what? The sustained rise in Dubai international visitors 2025 signals strong demand and ongoing investment in capacity, services and sustainability. For travelers this means more flight and hotel options, upgraded guest technology such as contactless check-in, and a growing array of recognised, safer and more inclusive experiences. For industry stakeholders, the data point to continued opportunity for investment, expansion into emerging submarkets and a need to align with Dubai’s D33 and sustainability priorities to capture future growth.