Dubai visitor numbers begin to recover as tourism boss hails city's determination

Dubai's tourism industry is showing signs of recovery, according to new figures released on the eve of the Arabian Travel Market. In August, the city welcomed 869,000 international overnight visitors, marking the strongest month since the conflict began in late February. Hotel occupancy reached 66 percent, nearly 89 percent of the city's August 2025 occupancy levels, which had fallen to as low as single digits during the peak of the war.

Dubai's top tourism official, Issam Kazim, praised the city's resilience, stating that true grit is tested during difficult times. The figures, released as the city prepares for the Arabian Travel Market, highlight Dubai's focus on collaborations with the industry, strengthening demand across 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. Western Europe accounted for 20 percent of visitation, followed by South Asia at 17 percent, the Gulf at 16 percent, and CIS and Eastern Europe at 14 percent. Despite the conflict disrupting daily life, schools, business activities, and flights, Dubai has added approximately 200,000 residents this year, bringing the total population to about 4.7 million.