Dubai Tourism Boom: Pre-Pandemic Levels Surpassed

The growth of tourism in Dubai is unstoppable. The tourism in the ultra-modern city of the United Arab Emirates has already surpassed the pre-pandemic level and is preparing to become one of the most popular destinations in world tourism.

In the first half of 2023, the number of visits by foreigners and the number of visitors to this commercial and entertainment center of the Middle East increased by 20% compared to the same period of the previous year, according to an article in the Emirati newspaper The National, which cited the latest data released by the Dubai Department of Economics and Tourism.

In the first six months of the year, 8.55 million people visited Dubai, surpassing the previous pre-pandemic record of 8.36 million tourists between January and June 2019. The results are in line with the direction set by the Dubai Economic Agenda 2033 that aims to bring Dubai into the top three most important cities in the world.

Dubai’s tourism numbers are clearly above any estimates made for a recovery after long months of restrictions in international mobility due to the pandemic. The numbers exceeded all expectations and were already excellent in the first quarter of 2023 with 4.67 million visitors and a 17% year-over-year increase.

Thes results “demonstrate the emergence of the city as one of the key destinations that can stimulate the recovery of the global tourism sector,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. “This result was made possible by the leadership’s far-reaching vision of transforming Dubai into one of the world’s fastest growing metropolitan areas and a leading global hub for travel, talent, entrepreneurship, and investment. The tourism sector is not only the strongest pillar of our economy, but also a key factor in Dubai’s special role in the world as a bridge between markets, cultures, and regions. In the coming years, Dubai will continue to implement new cutting-edge initiatives to provide travelers with a unique experience and achieve the goal of becoming the best place in the world to live, visit, work, and invest.”