Dubai Breaks Tourism Records in Early 2025: Over 7 Million Visitors, Hotel Growth, and Culinary Accolades Fuel Surge

Record Tourism Growth in Q1 2025

Dubai’s tourism momentum continues to break boundaries. Between January and April 2025, the city welcomed 7.15 million international overnight visitors — a 7% increase year-on-year. Building on 2024’s record of 18.72 million global arrivals, Dubai is once again raising the bar for global tourism destinations.

Australasia Emerges as a Key Growth Market

Visitor arrivals from Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) surged by 14% year-on-year, reaching over 111,000 in Q1 2025. This upward trend underscores Dubai’s growing appeal across the Asia-Pacific region and validates its expanding airline connectivity and targeted promotional strategies.

Hospitality Sector Surpasses Expectations

Dubai’s hospitality ecosystem has expanded impressively to meet rising demand. As of April 2025, the city boasts 153,534 hotel rooms, spread across a diverse range of luxury, midscale, and budget segments. Occupancy rates and revenue per available room (RevPAR) have remained strong, signalling healthy market performance across categories.

MICHELIN Guide 2025: Culinary Tourism Takes Centre Stage

The 2025 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai has further elevated the city's global culinary standing. With 119 recognised restaurants across 35 cuisines (up from 106 in 2024), Dubai is now a major destination for gastronomic travel.

Highlights from the MICHELIN 2025 edition:

• Dubai’s first MICHELIN three-star restaurant

• 3 restaurants received two stars

• 14 restaurants awarded one star

• 22 restaurants received Bib Gourmand awards

• 3 restaurants honoured with MICHELIN Green Stars for sustainability

Dubai’s F&B industry also grew rapidly, with over 1,200 new restaurant licenses issued in 2024, signalling robust investor confidence and a strong culinary tourism appeal.

City Briefing 2025: A Unified Tourism Vision

In early 2025, Dubai’s tourism stakeholders convened for the first City Briefing of the year. The session emphasised multi-sector collaboration — aviation, hospitality, retail, and gastronomy — as key to sustaining growth. The unified focus remains on elevating Dubai’s global competitiveness while fostering resilience and innovation.

D33 Agenda: Global Campaigns Captivate International Travellers

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) continues to roll out strategic global marketing campaigns under the D33 Agenda:

• Dubai. That’s How You Summer – Showcasing the city as a vibrant yet relaxing summer escape, blending luxury, adventure, and leisure.

• Find Your Story – A visually immersive campaign inviting travellers to discover Dubai’s contrasts, from serene deserts to futuristic skylines, led by global personalities.

These campaigns aim to attract both new and repeat visitors, enhance brand positioning, and highlight the city's blend of innovation, hospitality, and heritage.

Conclusion: Dubai’s Tourism Trajectory Points Skyward

Dubai’s performance in early 2025 signals a resilient and forward-looking travel industry. The combination of record-breaking visitor arrivals, booming hotel infrastructure, rising F&B excellence, and global marketing efforts positions Dubai as a model for tourism-led economic growth.

For B2B travel agents, consolidators, and corporate travel professionals, Dubai continues to be a premier destination offering unmatched value, connectivity, and client satisfaction across leisure, luxury, and culinary segments.

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