According to figures released by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai received 9.31 million foreign overnight visitors from January to June 2024, a 9% increase over the 8.55 million tourist visits during the same period in 2023. 

The tourist sector in Dubai is expected to achieve a record performance in 2024 after a historic year in 2023, when the city welcomed a record 17.15 million foreign overnight visitors. This is thanks to the tourism industry's strong start to the year.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, commended this achievement, saying: "The strong tourism growth achieved by Dubai in the first half of 2024 is testament to the city’s ability to foster productive public-private partnerships and build extensive global networks of collaboration.With every year, Dubai continues to consolidate its status as a frontrunner in the global tourism landscape and grow in popularity as an international destination."

"We remain committed to maintaining this successful trajectory and boosting the tourism sector's contribution to Dubai's GDP. By further developing our infrastructure and providing exceptional services for visitors, we aim to set new benchmarks and records in 2024," Sheikh Hamdan added.

This growth also aligns with the successful first year of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, aiming to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure.

“Our success stems from a diversified market approach, strong public-private partnerships, liberal visa policies, and alternative growth pathways, all catalysts for the continued surge in both leisure and business visitation, along with increasing levels of investment and inflows of global talent," Helal Saeed Al Marri, the Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism said.

Proximity markets in the GCC and MENA accounted for 26 per cent of total visits between January and June 2024, with 1.27 million (14 per cent) and 1.09 million (12 per cent) arrivals, respectively. Of the 1.89 million visitors to Dubai, 20 per cent came from Western Europe. With 1.62 million tourists (17 per cent), South Asia was another significant source market, followed by the CIS and Eastern Europe with 1.37 million (15 percent).

Driven by a robust rebound from China, North-East and South-East Asia climbed from an 8 per cent share at the beginning of the year to a 10 per cent share (896,000) of total visitors at the end of H1 2024. There was also an increase in travel to Dubai from other regions, such as the Americas (617,000 visitors, or 7 per cent), Africa (404,000 visitors, or 4 per cent), and Australasia (154,000 visitors, or 2 per cent).

Dubai is facing a hotel supply shortage due to rising tourist numbers. Issam Kazim, CEO of DCTCM, highlights that continued support from partners will be vital for expanding global and local marketing efforts and sustaining growth through 2024.