Dubai Welcomes 9.88 Million Visitors in H1 2025, Recording 6% Year-on-Year Growth
The growth highlights the emirate's strong global appeal and the success of public-private partnerships and targeted marketing campaigns.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the achievement as a reflection of Dubai's strategic vision to become a world-leading destination for tourism, trade, and innovation. Western Europe remained the top source market, accounting for 22% of visitors, followed by South Asia, the CIS and Eastern Europe, and the GCC.
The hotel sector also posted strong results, with an 80.6% average occupancy rate and over 22 million occupied room nights. Culinary tourism played a key role, bolstered by Dubai's recognition in the MICHELIN Guide and The World's 50 Best Restaurants, with Trèsind Studio ranked No.27 globally and FZN earning three MICHELIN stars.
Dubai was also named the world's best city for solo female travellers and the first Certified Autism Destination™ in the Eastern Hemisphere, affirming its commitment to inclusive and accessible tourism.
As DET continues to drive the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the city's evolving infrastructure, new hotel openings, global campaigns, and business events position it as a global benchmark for travel, hospitality, and urban excellence.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
8 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Hamdan bin Mohammed reviews outcomes of Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum Family Program
4 Aug 2025 18:52 DUBAI (WAM) His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, affirmed that the leadership places the highest priority on strengthening family values and fostering social cohesion, while ensuring that all necessary resources and support are made available to build a thriving and prosperous Emirati the outcomes of the Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum Family Program, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed emphasised that Dubai's development vision has always placed people at its very in September 2023 by the Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai to empower Emirati families and reinforce social stability through a comprehensive set of initiatives, the programme facilitates a host of benefits, including avenues for psychological and social support, financial literacy, and direct assistance in meeting housing and other expenses incurred by new Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed applauded the success of the Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum Family Program in reinforcing the foundations of social stability by supporting and empowering Emirati families through a series of integrated and high-impact initiatives. The programme aligns with the expansive vision outlined for various social empowerment programmes and their role in creating a lasting positive impact that supports the goals of the Dubai Social Agenda review of the programme is part of ongoing efforts to monitor the social empowerment agenda and ensure that various initiatives aimed at advancing those goals achieve sustainable impact in line with Dubai's strategic Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said, 'The programme reflects our deep commitment to empowering our youth and supporting them in building a future that matches their aspirations. A stable family denotes a fundamental pillar in the development and progress of societies. We are committed to providing every prerequisite for young people looking to start a dignified family life – including suitable housing, financial support, enhanced employment opportunities, and expanded social care initiatives. We believe that investing in families is an investment in the nation's future, and we will continue working to provide a wholesome environment that ensures well-being and stability for all.'Praising participants in the programme, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said, 'We commend the determination of the youth who have chosen to begin their family lives based on a clear foundation of awareness and responsibility – setting a proud example for a generation that knows how to shape its future through willpower, hard work, and initiative.'The Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum Family Program has contributed to a significant increase in marriage rates among Emiratis. The Dubai Weddings initiative recorded a 218 percent increase in participation during 2025 compared to 2024, with the number of weddings held to date exceeding 700. Marriages facilitated through the Dubai Weddings initiative accounted for 27.7 percent of all marriages registered in the results also indicated that the largest demographic of beneficiaries consisted of men aged between 26–30 and women aged between 20–25. The programme also recorded an impressive 95 percent beneficiary satisfaction programme offers extensive education and training sessions for couples as part of efforts to ensure the long-term success of marital relationships. Among notable highlights are Start it Right, a course promoting awareness of marital rights and effective approaches to foster mutual understanding; Family Financial Culture – Dubai, which focuses on sound financial planning; and How to Build Your Home, which offers guidance on smart and viable housing programme's benefits extend beyond education, offering tangible solutions that meet real-life needs. It offers full coverage of wedding costs for both men and women when the ceremony is hosted in CDA-approved venues. It also facilitates priority access to ready-to-move-in housing through easy instalment payment schemes. Among other benefits are exclusive discounts on medical services, wedding essentials, jewellery, magazines, and travel. Another advantage comes in the form of a loyalty card under the Esaad programme that offers various community perks. There is also a remote work provision for newlywed female employees following maternity of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, emphasised that the Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum Family Program reflects the vision of the leadership in placing family at the core of sustainable development. She noted that strengthening Emirati families is fundamental to building a cohesive and happy stated, 'The programme's achievements are a source of pride. True investment starts within the Emirati household. Seeing young families embark on a key phase of life and welcoming new members into their families under the umbrella of this initiative proves that we are creating not just statistics, but real stories of secure and thriving beginnings.'From awareness to empowerment, and from financial to housing support, we are offering a complete ecosystem that supports families at every stage of their journey. This aligns with the goals of the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and reinforces the city's role as an ideal environment for starting a family and building a future.'Thanking Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, for her generous patronage of the initiative, Buhumaid said, 'Dubai Weddings is more than just a scheme providing assistance – it is a gesture rooted in compassion and community spirit.'Through this initiative, Her Highness Sheikha Hind has touched the lives of countless youths, helping them start on the path of family with confidence and clarity. This initiative brought the true essence of social responsibility to life,' she said, reaffirming the Authority's commitment to continuously enhancing the programme through strategic partnerships, positioning it as a leading model for family empowerment and sustainable social development.
Hi Dubai
15 hours ago
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Welcomes 9.88 Million Visitors in H1 2025, Recording 6% Year-on-Year Growth
Dubai received 9.88 million international visitors in the first half of 2025, marking a 6% year-on-year increase, according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The growth highlights the emirate's strong global appeal and the success of public-private partnerships and targeted marketing campaigns. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the achievement as a reflection of Dubai's strategic vision to become a world-leading destination for tourism, trade, and innovation. Western Europe remained the top source market, accounting for 22% of visitors, followed by South Asia, the CIS and Eastern Europe, and the GCC. The hotel sector also posted strong results, with an 80.6% average occupancy rate and over 22 million occupied room nights. Culinary tourism played a key role, bolstered by Dubai's recognition in the MICHELIN Guide and The World's 50 Best Restaurants, with Trèsind Studio ranked No.27 globally and FZN earning three MICHELIN stars. Dubai was also named the world's best city for solo female travellers and the first Certified Autism Destination™ in the Eastern Hemisphere, affirming its commitment to inclusive and accessible tourism. As DET continues to drive the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the city's evolving infrastructure, new hotel openings, global campaigns, and business events position it as a global benchmark for travel, hospitality, and urban excellence. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Dubai Eye
15 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Dubai welcomes 9.88 million tourists in first half of 2025
Dubai has welcomed 9.88 million tourists from January to June, 2025, marking a 6 per cent increase compared to the same period in the previous year. "Dubai continues to set new records in international visitation," highlighted His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai in a social media post. It reflects "Dubai's ability to create compelling experiences that meet the evolving needs of visitors has strengthened its status as one of the world's most sought-after destinations". "From exceptional infrastructure to unique attractions, Dubai offers a model of excellence in the tourism and hospitality sectors grounded in innovation," he highlighted. According to data published by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the GCC and MENA proximity markets had a combined 26 per cent share of overall visitors to Dubai from January to June 2025, with 1.51 million (15 per cent) and 1.12 million (11 per cent) arrivals respectively. Western Europe was the largest source market to Dubai, with 2.12 million visitors (22 per cent), followed by CIS and Eastern Europe (15 per cent), South Asia (15 per cent), North East and South East Asia (9 per cent), the Americas (7 per cent), Africa (4 per cent) and Australasia (2 per cent). In the first six months of 2025, the city expanded its hotel inventory with new openings across all segments and in various locations, including Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Umm Suqeim, Cheval Maison in Expo City, The Biltmore Hotel Villas in Al Barsha, and Vida Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai. Dubai's accommodation portfolio also showed growth with upcoming high-profile openings such as the Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai; ZUHHA Island on The World Islands; and Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection, which is set to be the world's tallest all-hotel tower. A series of tourism campaigns by the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), with international stars like Millie Bobby Brown, Jake Bongiovi, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have helped in the numbers. "Dubai has become even more accessible, with a robust infrastructure and a business-friendly environment that fosters collaboration, while a year-round calendar of leisure, trade and MICE events have further diversified the city's visitor base and generated significant economic impact," added Issam Kazim, CEO of DCTCM. DET's data revealed that the emirate's hotel sector achieved impressive results across all hospitality metrics. From January to June 2025, average occupancy for hotels in Dubai stood at 80.6 per cent, up from 78.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. Gastronomy continues to be a key attraction for international visitation and investment to Dubai, with the city's diverse culinary scene consistently recognised globally. The fourth edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai was unveiled in May, and it featured a total of 119 restaurants across 35 cuisines, including the city's first three-starred restaurants. 'Dubai's strong tourism performance in the first half of 2025 reflects the enduring strength and adaptability of our economic model, even amid persistent global headwind," added Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General, DET.
