Dubai Welcomes 16.79 Million International Tourists in First 11 Months of 2024
Dubai, The Gulf Observer: Dubai recorded 16.79 million international tourists between January and November 2024, reflecting a 9% increase compared to the 15.37 million visitors during the same period in 2023.
According to the Dubai Tourism Sector 2024 Performance Report, issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the emirate attracted 1.83 million international visitors in November 2024 alone. Monthly visitor numbers ranged from 1.77 million in January to 1.9 million in February, with consistent performance across other months, including 1.67 million in October and 1.51 million in March.
Western Europe remained Dubai’s leading source market, contributing 3.298 million visitors, or 20% of the total, followed by South Asia with 2.858 million tourists, accounting for 17%. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries ranked third with over 2.5 million tourists (15%), while the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe brought in 2.353 million visitors (14%).
The Middle East and North Africa region contributed 1.933 million tourists (12%), followed by North East and South East Asia with 1.622 million visitors (10%). The Americas accounted for 1.117 million tourists (7%), Africa for 791,000 (5%), and Australia for 319,000 (2%).
Hospitality Sector Growth
Dubai’s hospitality sector also showed significant growth. By the end of November 2024, the emirate boasted 153,390 hotel rooms in 828 establishments, compared to 149,685 rooms in 820 properties at the end of November 2023.
Hotel room bookings reached 39.19 million during the first 11 months, a 3% increase compared to 38.01 million during the same period in 2023. The average length of stay for guests was 3.6 nights.
Accommodation Distribution
- 5-star hotels: 53,977 rooms across 168 properties (35% of total inventory).
- 4-star hotels: 43,345 rooms in 194 properties.
- 1- to 3-star hotels: 29,701 rooms across 278 establishments.
- Luxury hotel apartments: 13,944 rooms in 80 properties.
- Mid-level hotel apartments: 12,423 rooms in 108 properties.
Revenue and Rates
The average daily rate (ADR) for hotel rooms in Dubai during this period was AED 520, a 2% increase compared to AED 510 in 2023. The revenue per available room (RevPAR) climbed to AED 405, up 3% from AED 394 in 2023.
The continued growth in visitor numbers and hotel performance underscores Dubai’s position as a global tourism hub, driven by its world-class infrastructure, attractions, and strategic marketing initiatives.
