DXB had a successful second quarter, with passenger traffic rising by 42.7% year over year to 20.3 million. During Q2, May saw 6.9 million visitors, making it the busiest month.

Due to a strong Q2, DXB’s H1 traffic totaled 41.6 million visitors, up 49.1% from the 27.9 million visits registered in H1 2022.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said, “It’s been a rewarding first half for Dubai International and amidst increasing guest numbers, we take great pride in knowing we are continuously delivering with operational excellence and providing an exemplary guest experience. “As we recover with our H1 traffic surpassing pre-pandemic levels, we remain committed to ensuring every guest who travels through our airport leaves with a smile.”

The performance of DXB’s luggage in H1 2023 increased 7% over pre-pandemic H1 2019 levels, keeping it in first place globally. Almost 37.2 million bags have been handled by DXB so far this year without any issues preventing the delivery of luggage to customers; 92% of all bags were delivered to customers within 45 minutes.

With the assistance of the airports’ strategic partners, DXB managed a number of seasonal peak periods in H1 2023 and continued to provide a faultless customer experience by meeting predetermined KPIs.

DXB received numerous honors, including a certification from Airports Council International in recognition of its ongoing efforts to enable travelers with visible and invisible disabilities a safe and welcoming airport experience. By bringing in a number of new airlines, it improved connection to additional new areas and countries.

India continued to hold the top spot as DXB’s top destination country in terms of traffic with 6 million visits in the first half. With 3.1 million visitors, Saudi Arabia came in second, followed by the United Kingdom in third place with 2.8 million. Pakistan (2 million visitors), the United States (1.8 million visitors), Russia (1.3 million visitors), and Germany (1.2 million visitors) are some of the other well-traveled countries.

With 1.7 million visits, London came in first place among popular city destinations. Mumbai came in second with 1.2 million visitors, while Riyadh came in third with 1.2 million.

DXB is reachable from 257 locations across 104 countries via more than 91 international carriers.

Cargo volumes at DXB increased by 16.1% over the previous year in the second quarter, hitting 453,500 tonnes. As a result, the total amount of freight for the year fell by 6.2% from the previous year to 853,500 tonnes.

In all, DXB handled 201,800 flights in the first half, up 30.2% annually and 13% over H1 2019. A load factor of 77% and an average of 214 people per trip were recorded during the first half.

Furthermore, Dubai came very close to reaching its pre-pandemic tourism numbers, with 16.73 million tourists in 2019. This outstanding achievement solidified Dubai’s position as the top global destination for the second consecutive year in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023. Only two cities in history have ever accomplished this feat.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, stated, “Dubai’s ability to rapidly accelerate tourism growth, positioning itself as a clear frontrunner in the global industry, exemplifies the far-reaching vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in transforming the emirate into a significant global player in shaping the future of vital sectors.”

“The impressive surge in international visitation in 2022 aligns with the ambitious objective of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to double the emirate’s economy by 2033. The tourism and travel sector plays a vital role in the leadership’s vision of positioning the emirate as a global economic excellence model.”

According to recent statistics from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), global tourism experienced a decline of 37% between 2019 and 2022. However, the Middle East witnessed the most significant relative growth, with arrivals reaching 83% of pre-pandemic levels. Dubai surpassed regional and global recovery indicators by achieving 86% of its pre-pandemic tourism levels in 2022.

Helal Saeed Almarri, the Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, stated, “Despite the ongoing fluctuations in the global economy, Dubai has emerged as a clear leader in the tourism industry. This robust performance exemplifies Dubai’s prominent role in leading the global tourism recovery. The positive momentum also highlights the significant contribution of tourism to the city’s economic growth and sustainable development, further propelling the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to solidify Dubai’s position as one of the world’s top three cities for tourism and business.”

Dubai’s international markets maintain momentum

In 2022, there was an even split of 21% in arrivals between the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and Western Europe regions. This represents a significant increase from 13% in 2021, particularly for the GCC region. South Asia accounted for 17% of the total arrivals, while the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region contributed 12%. Africa, Australasia, and North and South East Asia each constituted 5% of the arrivals, with the Americas accounting for 7%. Australasia alone represented 2% of the total arrivals.

Strong growth in the hospitality sector

In 2022, the hotel sector in Dubai achieved one of the highest average occupancy rates globally, increasing from 67% in 2021 to 73%. Although slightly below the 75% mark set in the pre-pandemic years, this is still an impressive result. Notably, the high occupancy rate was achieved despite a 16% increase in room supply compared to 2019. By the end of December 2022, Dubai had a total of 146,496 rooms across 804 hotels, compared to 126,120 rooms in 741 establishments at the end of December 2019. The number of hotels also increased by 6% in 2022, with a total of 755 hotels offering 137,950 rooms.

The hotel industry in Dubai has shown significant improvement across various key indicators compared to pre-pandemic levels. Occupied Room Nights reached a record-breaking 37.43 million in 2022, surpassing the 32.11 million recorded in 2019 and the 31.47 million in 2021 by 17% and 19% respectively.

Average Daily Rate (ADR) also experienced substantial growth, reaching Dh536 in 2022, outperforming the ADRs of Dh451 in 2021 and Dh415 in 2019, with increases of 19% and 29% respectively. Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) demonstrated impressive growth as well, with a 25% increase over 2019 and a 30% increase over 2021 (Dh391 vs. Dh301) (RevPAR of Dh312).

Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, expressed his appreciation for the contributions of partners in achieving the top ranking and their active participation in campaigns and marketing activities. He emphasized the importance of the support from public and private sector stakeholders and partners in showcasing Dubai’s unmatched offerings to international travelers. The goal is to continue attracting more visitors to Dubai in 2023 while catering to their diverse preferences and budgets.

New landmarks, initiatives to spur growth

In 2022, Dubai introduced several exciting programs and attractions to enhance its tourism offerings. One notable addition was the Museum of the Future, a captivating landmark that serves as a gateway to an alternate reality. Another highlight was the opening of Atlantis The Royal, a grand-scale resort located on the Palm Jumeirah. Additionally, Expo City showcased the vibrant legacy of Expo 2020, presenting an innovative and human-centered vision of the future.

Dubai is actively working towards its goal of becoming the city of the future through the implementation of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. This comprehensive plan aims to enhance the tourism offerings by over 100%. Furthermore, Dubai is set to launch new initiatives as part of the UAE 2031 Tourism Strategy. This strategy aims to attract 40 million visitors by 2031 and increase the tourism sector’s contribution to Dubai’s GDP to Dh450 billion. These ambitious plans will further solidify Dubai’s position as a leading destination for futuristic experiences and remarkable attractions.

Multiple visa options

Dubai continues to enhance its legislative initiatives to support the rapid growth of the tourism sector. These initiatives include streamlined entry procedures for both business and leisure travelers, facilitating easy access to the emirate and establishing long-term connections with the city. Some of these initiatives are the introduction of a 60-day tourist visa from September 2022 and the Five-Year Multi-Entry Visa for employees of multinational corporations. Additionally, Dubai offers programs like the Golden Visa, Virtual Working, and Retire in Dubai, which further boost tourism.

In 2022, Dubai was chosen as one of the 20 global destinations under Airbnb’s Live and Work Anywhere project. This initiative aims to identify locations that offer the best conditions for remote workers. In partnership with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, Airbnb established the Dubai Remote Working Hub. This hub serves as a comprehensive resource for aspiring remote workers, providing all the necessary information and support.

Dubai’s tourism expansion aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, a plan unveiled earlier in the year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. Under this agenda, Dubai aims to establish itself as one of the top three cities globally.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, emphasized the city’s emergence as a leading destination in the global tourism sector. He attributed this achievement to Dubai’s visionary leadership, which has transformed the city into a rapidly growing metropolis and a hub for travel, talent, entrepreneurship, and investment. Sheikh Hamdan also highlighted the significance of the tourism sector as a driving force behind Dubai’s economy and its unique role as a bridge between markets, cultures, and regions. Looking ahead, Dubai plans to introduce innovative initiatives to further enhance its appeal as the world’s best place to live, visit, work, and invest in.

The World Trade Organisation of the United Nations had forecasted a substantial increase in foreign visitor arrivals, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, with an expected growth rate of 80% to 95% compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, the latest industry data, presented at the 30th Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, indicates that Dubai is leading the global recovery, reaching 98% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023.

Dubai’s visitor count in Q1 2023 was just two percentage points shy of the pre-pandemic volume of 4.75 million tourists recorded in the same period of 2019. This achievement is remarkable considering that the city reopened to international tourists in July 2020 amidst global economic challenges. Furthermore, Dubai received additional recognition as it was voted the world’s top travel destination for the second time in history at the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023.

Helal Saeed Almarri, the Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, expressed optimism about Dubai’s trajectory for the year, highlighting the city’s commitment to becoming the most visited and revisited destination. He attributed the positive industry performance to the well-defined strategy of Dubai and the unwavering support of tourism industry partners and stakeholders. Almarri emphasized the city’s ongoing transformation in terms of infrastructure, technology, attractions, and experiences, all aligned with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda 2033.

Dubai’s diverse multi-geographic approach to tourism has proven successful, with its traditional source markets continuing to have a positive impact on international tourist arrivals. The GCC and MENA regions contributed 29% of the total volumes, followed by South Asia with 16%, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe with 15%, the Americas with 7%, North Asia and South East Asia with 6%, Africa with 4%, and Australasia with 1%. Western Europe accounted for 22% of the total tourist arrivals.

While four regions have fully recovered and surpassed Q1 2019 levels, the majority of regions witnessed significant increases in Q1 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. South Asia and Western Europe are