UAE Tourism Keeps Rising as Sheikh Mohammed Reviews Strong 2025 Results

The UAE’s tourism sector continued its upward trajectory in 2025, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoumreviewing the latest performance report of the Emirates Tourism Council and the sector’s key achievements. According to the official update, the country recorded steady growth across major hospitality and tourism indicators, reinforcing the UAE’s position as one of the region’s strongest travel markets.

One of the clearest signals of that momentum was the number of hotel guests. In 2025, UAE hotel establishments welcomed more than 32 million guests, marking a 5.1% increase compared to 2024. At the same time, hotel revenues climbed to AED 49.21 billion, up 9.7% year-on-year, reflecting both strong visitor demand and healthy market performance.

The country’s hospitality infrastructure also continued to expand. The total number of hotel rooms reached 217,000, spread across more than 1,240 hotel establishments nationwide. Hotel occupancy stood at 79.5%, one of the highest rates in the region and globally, underlining the UAE’s ability to maintain demand at scale.

Another major milestone was the volume of hotel nights, which reached 100 million in 2025. On the international stage, the UAE also ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 18th globally in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024, adding another layer of international recognition to the country’s tourism strategy.

For Dubai People, the bigger takeaway is simple: tourism in the UAE is not just recovering or stabilizing — it is continuing to grow with real consistency. Strong hotel performance, high occupancy, expanding infrastructure, and rising global competitiveness all point to a sector that remains central to the country’s economic and international positioning.