Dubai says tourism recovery has begun with nearly 900,000 visitors in August

Dubai's tourism sector is showing positive signs of recovery, even as the conflict in Iran continues. In August, the city welcomed 869,000 international overnight visitors, marking the strongest month since the war began in late February. Hotel occupancy reached 66%, which is 89% of the city's occupancy levels from August 2025, according to Dubai Media Office.

This is a significant increase from the March average of 36%. Issam Kazim, Dubai's top tourism official, stated that the city's true resilience is tested during difficult times, and the leadership is committed to continuing to attract visitors. The figures were released ahead of Arabian Travel Market, one of the largest events of its kind in the world, at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Kazim, the CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, emphasized the importance of close collaborations with the industry, expanding demand in established and emerging markets, and providing compelling reasons for visitors to choose Dubai. In the first eight months of the year, Dubai welcomed 6.97 million international visitors, bringing the total to 19.59 million in 2025.

However, the target of 20 million visitors for the year was widely expected, barring the conflict. Western Europe contributed 20% of visitation, followed by South Asia at 17%, the Gulf at 16%, and CIS and Eastern Europe at 14%. Despite the challenges posed by the conflict, which disrupted daily life, schools, business activities, and flights, Dubai has added approximately 200,000 residents this year, bringing the total population to around 4.7 million.