Tourism High occupancy rates push UAE hotel revenues to $12bn By Pramod Kumar April 8, 2025, 9:55 AM SOPA Images Limited/Alamy Live News via Reuters Connect Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the economy minister, said the UAE is 'well on track to achieving the strategy's goal of attracting 40 million hotel guests' Occupancy reaches 78% UAE opened 16 new hotels in 2024 Guest numbers up by 20% UAE hotel revenues reached AED45 billion ($12.3 billion) in 2024, an increase of 3 percent year on year, according to the chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council. Hotel occupancy rates climbed to 78 percent last year, ranking among the highest regionally and globally, state-run Wam news agency reported, citing Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the economy minister and tourism council chairman. Sixteen new hotels opened in the UAE in 2024, taking the number of hotels to 1,251 by the end of the year. The number of hotel rooms grew by 3 percent year on year to 216,966. The number of hotel guests across the UAE hit nearly 31 million in 2024, an annual increase of 10 percent. This represents 77 percent of the hotel guest target set as part of the National Tourism Strategy 2031. “With the current growth trajectory, we are well on track to achieving the strategy’s goal of attracting 40 million hotel guests,” Al Marri said. Demand for luxury keeps Dubai hotel openings upscale Travel to and from the GCC is this year’s top Eid trend UAE to fund new luxury hotel near Egypt’s Giza pyramids The UAE tourism strategy is intended to increase the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP to AED450 billion by 2031, attract new investment of AED100 billion and welcome 40 million guests to the country’s hotels by the next decade. The makeup of new rooms added in Dubai was dominated by the luxury sector last year. Nearly two-thirds of new hotel rooms added in 2024 were in the luxury and upper-upscale segments, AGBI reported last month, citing data from the real estate consultancy Cavendish Maxwell. The five-star category nearly doubled its growth year on year, adding 1,933 rooms across seven new hotels, the consultancy said in a report. Meanwhile, the four-star category grew only moderately, with a 17 percent increase in new room supply – adding nine hotels in 2024, up from seven the previous year. Register now: It’s easy and free AGBI registered members can access even more of our unique analysis and perspective on business and economics in the Middle East. Why sign uP Exclusive weekly email from our editor-in-chief Personalised weekly emails for your preferred industry sectors Read and download our insight packed white papers Access to our mobile app Prioritised access to live events Register for free Already registered? Sign in I’ll register later
