Page last updated: 23 October 2025
Dubai, the crown jewel of the United Arab Emirates, is known for its modern architecture, luxury, and unique attractions. Tourism plays a key role in its economy, drawing millions of visitors annually.
How many tourists visited Dubai each year?
Over 16 million international visitors travel to Dubai each year (based on pre-pandemic and post-pandemic recovery trends).
- Dubai welcomed 13.2 million visitors in 2014, with steady growth observed through 2019, peaking at 16.7 million visitors, a growth of 26.5% over five years.1
- In 2020, the number of visitors dropped to 5.5 million, reflecting a 67.1% decrease compared to 2019 due to pandemic-related restrictions.
- Tourism began recovering in 2021, with 7.3 million visitors, reflecting a 32.7% growth from the previous year.
- The positive trend continued in 2023 as Dubai welcomed over 17.2 million international tourists, surpassing both its 2022 numbers and the pre-pandemic visitor count from 2019.
- Dubai welcomed 18.7 million tourists in 2024, indicating an 8.7% increase from 2023 and a 12% increase from 2019.2
How many tourists visited Dubai in 2025?
Over 11.17 million tourists visited Dubai between January and July 2025, representing a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
- Dubai’s Monthly Performance for 2025:
- January-February 2025: 3.82 million visitors (+4% year-on-year).
- January-March 2025: 5.31 million visitors (+3% year-on-year).
- January-April 2025: 7.15 million visitors (+7% year-on-year).
- January-May 2025: 8.68 million visitors (+7% year-on-year).
- January-June 2025: 9.88 million visitors (+6% year-on-year).
- January-July 2025: 11.17 million visitors (+5% year-on-year).
| Monthly Visitors to Dubai in 2025 | |
| Month | Visitors (millions) |
| January | 1.8 |
| February | 1.93 |
| March | 1.54 |
| April | 1.58 |
| May | 1.5 |
| June | 1.23 |
| July | 1.34 |
How many tourists visited Dubai in 2024?
Dubai welcomed 18.7 million international visitors in 2024.
- This indicated a 8.7% increase compared to 2023 and was 12% higher than the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
How much do visitors spend in Dubai each year?
Visitor expenditure contributed over AED 217.3 billion to the UAE’s economy in 2024.3
- In 2022, international visitors spent AED 117.6 billion in Dubai. This was a big jump of 65.3% from This was a 20.3% increase from AED 180.6 billion in 2023.
- In 2022, international visitors spent AED 117.6 billion in Dubai. This was a big jump of 65.3% from the year before, but still 19% less than what was spent in 2019.
Where do visitors to Dubai come from?
- In 2024, Dubai welcomed over 2.2 million Indian tourists, which was a 22% increase from the previous year and 12% higher than the peak visitation year 2019 with 1.97 million Indian visitors.
- Following India, Oman contributed the second-largest group of visitors with 1.57 million tourists.
- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the third-leading nation, boasting 1.45 million travellers.
- The United Kingdom and Russia were close behind with 1.25 million visits and 910,000 visits, respectively.
Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic – Dubai Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021
- Dubai witnessed a decrease in international tourists in 2020, with only 5.5 million visitors, marking a historical low in Dubai’s tourism sector. This represented a decrease of 67.07% from the previous year.
- Amidst COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, Dubai managed to attract approximately 7.28 million international visitors, a 32% increase compared to the previous year.
When is the best time to visit Dubai?
- The best months to visit Dubai are between November and March when temperatures range from 15°C to 25°C.
- During these months, all of the major attractions and outdoor locations are easily accessible and pleasant.
What are the peak tourist months in Dubai?
Dubai consistently welcomes over 1 million visitors each month.
- December was the peak tourist month in 2024, with 1.93 million visitors.
- February followed with 1.9 million visitors.
- November recorded 1.83 million visitors.
- January and October also remained relatively busy with 1.77 million and 1.67 million visitors, respectively.
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How long do visitors stay in Dubai?
In 2024, visitors spent an average of 10 days per visit in Dubai, a 27.5% decrease from the previous year.
- In 2019, visitors spent an average of 8 days in Dubai. The year 2020 and 2021 marked an increase in this duration with visitors spending an average of 9.7 days and 9.6 days in Dubai, respectively.
- In 2022, visitors spent an average of 7.8 days in Dubai. While this suggests a slight decline from the previous years, it remains a significant duration for visitor stays.
- In 2023, visitors spent an average of 13.8 days per visit in Dubai. This indicates a 73% increase compared to 2019 and 42% higher compared to 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Economic Impact – Dubai Tourism Statistics
- The statistics show that international tourists contributed AED 117.6 billion to the country’s GDP in 2022, an increase of 65.3% over the previous year but still 19% down from 2019 figures.
- At the end of 2019, the tourism sector contributed 11.5% to the GDP value of Dubai.
What are the top attractions to visit in Dubai?
- Dubai Mall is the most famous attraction in Dubai, with 99% of travelers visiting the mall in 2024. 86% of travelers visited the fountain, while 72% of visitors explored the beach and marine.
- 66% of travelers roamed around heritage and cultural districts. Famous attractions such as the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah attracted 48% and 38% of total travelers, respectively.
- Attractions like Global Village and Museum of the Future were explored by 34% and 31% of all travelers. 43% of all visitors to Dubai engaged in the Desert Safari in 2024.
Why do people visit Dubai?
- In 2024, approximately 77% of international visitors came to Dubai for leisure. This was a 71% increase from 2021.
- Dubai also held steady appeal for visitors looking to spend time with family and relatives, accounting for 14% of the total visits in 2024.
- However, visits for business purposes dropped to 8% in 2024. This could be due to the growing trend of ‘bleisure‘ (business-leisure) travel, where tourists combine work and relaxation.
How popular is Dubai as tourists destination?
- Dubai has achieved the no. 1 position as a global destination for the third consecutive year and ranked among the top 5 safest cities in the world.
- In 2024, average hotel occupancy rate was 78.2% and Dubai International (DXB) Airport handled 92.3 million passengers in 2024.
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