Page 545 - MOET PR REPORT- SEPTEMBER 2025

9/16/25, 2:26 PM UAE hotels welcome 16.1 million guests as hotel nights surge to 56 million in H1 2025
The minister presented these figures while chairing the third meeting of the Hospitality Advisory
Council for 2025, attended by representatives from both public and private sectors, including directors
and leaders of major national and international hotel establishments operating within the country.

During the meeting, the council reviewed key performance indicators for the hospitality sector in the
initial half of the year, alongside discussions regarding national initiatives and programs designed to
develop the hospitality industry in the UAE and enhance its investment opportunities, thereby
solidifying the nation’s status as a premier global tourist destination.

The meeting also assessed the hospitality sector’s performance results across the country, noting that the
number of hotel nights surged to 56 million nights, marking a growth of 7.3 percent. The average length
of stay reached 3.5 nights, with 1,243 hotel establishments in the UAE providing over 216,000 rooms.

Read more: UAE hotels earn $10.1 billion in first 10 months of 2024, marking a 4 percent growth

New luxury accommodations

Further data from Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) reveals that
Dubai alone attracted approximately 9.88 million overnight visitors in the first half of 2025, marking a 6
percent increase compared to the equivalent period in 2024. Key to this growth has been the addition of
new high-end properties such as the Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and other luxury hotels, which have
significantly boosted the city’s accommodation capacity and appeal. According to reports from IMARC
Group, the UAE hospitality market size was valued at $23.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach
$37.7 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2 percent through this
period.

This robust outlook is supported by government initiatives including the expansion of airport
infrastructure, visa reforms facilitating easier long-term and remote work visas, and strategic investment
in tourism facilities. These developments align with the UAE’s broader agenda to diversify its economy
beyond oil dependency, positioning tourism as a key driver of sustainable growth.

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