Dubai’s hospitality sector recorded a year-on-year growth of 9.2% in 2024, attracting 18.72 million visitors—a remarkable increase, as reported by Emirates NBD. TradeArabia News Service detailed various factors that contributed to this growth, including the restart of Emirates flights to Nigeria and a partnership with Air Peace, a West African airline.

The main source of visitors was Western Europe, accounting for 14.8% of total arrivals. South Asia also saw a 1.6% increase.

Dubai now boasts approximately 154,016 hotel rooms, outperforming most global cities. Notably, 64% of these accommodations are in the four-star (28%) and five-star (35%) categories.

By the end of 2025, an additional 3,000 rooms are projected to open, predominantly in the luxury segment. Dubai maintains a competitive advantage in average daily rates (ADR), pegged at USD 154 in 2024, surpassing cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, which have seen a rise in business travel.

The regional tourism sector also contributed positively, with the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry growing by over 25% in 2023, reaching nearly $460 billion. The hospitality sector alone created over 7.75 million jobs, bolstered by a 50% increase in international visitor expenditure, now totaling $179.8 billion, alongside $205 billion from domestic visitors.

This growth momentum is expected to persist into 2024, with an estimated contribution of $507 billion to regional economies and a creation of about 550,000 jobs in the sector.