Gulf hotel pipeline swells with nearly 126,000 new rooms due by 2030
Dubai: Nearly 126,000 new hotel rooms are set to open across the Gulf by 2030, lifting total supply in the six GCC countries to about 616,000 rooms, according to new research from Cavendish Maxwell. The region currently has close to 490,000 hotel rooms in operation, with the UAE accounting for around 43% of the total. The Emirates had…
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - By 2030, the Gulf region is set to see nearly 126,000 new hotel rooms open, increasing total hotel supply to around 616,000 rooms across the six GCC countries, according to research by Cavendish Maxwell. The UAE currently has about 43% of the total hotel rooms, with around 212,135 rooms in operation as of August 2026, including a significant number of 151,380 in Dubai.
Saudi Arabia has the largest development pipeline, with almost 94,500 rooms planned by 2030, expected to bring its total inventory to nearly 275,300. Occupancy rates have been lower during the first eight months of 2026 compared to previous years, with Saudi Arabia experiencing minimal decline at 59%, while the UAE saw a nearly 25% drop in occupancy.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia, however, have benefited from domestic tourism and pilgrimage demand, with Saudi Arabia's performance supported by strong domestic tourism and pilgrimage activities. Dubai remains highly dependent on international tourists, but Cavendish Maxwell predicts that average occupancy at the city could be between 60% and 66% during the winter season, supported by the peak travel season and numerous events.
Hotel rates have remained resilient despite weaker demand, with average daily rates (ADRs) falling slightly in the UAE and Dubai but still remaining higher than the 2025 levels.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
