Dubai hosted 7.12 million international visitors in the first half of 2022, nearly three times the 2.52 million tourists recorded in the same period last year, making it one of the world’s most visited destinations.
The number brings the city closer to its pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels of 8.36 million arrivals in the first six months of 2019, despite the impact of “unprecedented challenges” and “macroeconomic factors” affecting the global economy and tourism sector, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) said in a statement.
The government agency also noted that the hosting of leisure and business events, including the Arabian Travel Market and the Dubai Shopping Festival, helped to increase numbers.
”The rapid rise in international tourist arrivals puts Dubai on track to achieving its ambitious target of becoming the world’s most visited destination. In the years ahead, Dubai will continue to develop itself further as a destination that offers compelling value to international travellers,” said Sheikh Hamdam.
Western Europe accounted for a significant share of tourist arrivals, making up 22% of total international visitors in the first six months of 2022. The Middle East and North Africa and Gulf Corporation Council collectively contributed 34% of total international visitors.
These regions were followed closely by South Asia with a share of 16% and Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe together accounting for 11% of total visitors in H1 2022.
The wide geographic spread reflects Dubai’s diversified strategy aimed at attracting traffic from a broad spectrum of countries and visitor segments.
Hotel occupancy in Dubai is among the highest in the world during the first half of 2022, the average occupancy rate was 74 per cent, up from 62 per cent during the same period in 2021.
