International visits in Dubai have crossed pre-pandemic levels, during the first half of 2023.
Dubai has welcomed over 8.55 million visitors from January to June 2023, a growth from 8.36 million tourists during the same period in 2019.
The growth brings Dubai one step closer to becoming one of the most visited destinations in the world, as well as exceeds the projection made by the United Nations World Trade Organisation that international tourist arrivals could reach between 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels during 2023.
Hotels in Dubai had an average occupancy of 78% during the first six months of the year, a 2.2% increase from numbers in January to June 2019.
Dubai was also ranked the number one global destination in 2022 and 2023 at the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2023, making it the only city to hold the title for two consecutive years.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai said, "The remarkable surge in international visitors witnessed by Dubai in the first half of 2023 further demonstrates its emergence as one of the brightest spots not only in the worldwide tourism sector but also the broader global economic landscape. While the growth of international visitation reinforces Dubai’s rise as a major global tourism destination, it also signifies its status as a pivotal hub for trade, investment and enterprise."