News Travel Tourism: With 8.55 million visitors, Dubai surpasses its pre-pandemic performance

The first half of 2023 marked a record for Dubai, which harbors significant ambitions.

From January to June 2023, Dubai welcomed 8.55 million international visitors, exceeding the figures of 8.36 million tourists recorded in the first half of 2019. "This performance, surpassing pre-pandemic visitation levels, constitutes the best result ever recorded by the destination over a six-month period. Such results support Dubai's ambition to become the world's most visited destination," states a press release. "The 20% growth in visits compared to 2022 contributes to the goal of Dubai's 2033 Economic Agenda, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, to make the emirate one of the top three cities in the world." Western Europe accounts for 20% of international tourism arrivals, with France ranking 11th among the source markets, following the UK and Germany. The average hotel occupancy rate in Dubai "is one of the highest in the world, at 78% during the first half of 2023," the destination also highlights. "This growth is particularly remarkable considering a 13% increase in hotel establishments and a 26% rise in room capacity compared to the same period in 2019."

The average length of stay increased to 3.9 nights (compared to 3.5 nights in H1 2019), showcasing the city's appeal to travelers opting for longer stays. The total of 20.73 million room nights occupied in the first half represents a 12% increase compared to 2022 and a 32% rise compared to the first half of 2019.