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Data shows that Dubai’s tourism sector is burgeoning after welcoming 8.55 million international overnight visitors in the year’s first half.

This beats the emirate’s best tourism performance in the first half of 2019, which saw 8.36 million tourists.

The data was released by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, which noted that the performance is a 20% year-on-year visitation growth.

It also noted that Dubai’s average hotel occupancy was 78%, 2.2% higher than the occupancy achieved for the same period in 2019. The average length of guests’ stay increased to 3.9 nights (up from 3.5 nights in the first half of 2019), indicating the city’s appeal for long-stay travelers.

This is a feat as it exceeds the projection made by the United Nations World Trade Organization that international tourist arrivals could reach between 80-95% of pre-pandemic levels this year, noted DET.

“The remarkable surge in international visitors witnessed by Dubai in the first half of 2023 further demonstrates its emergence as one of the brightest spots not only in the worldwide tourism sector but also the broader global economic landscape,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

The emirate also ranked as the No. 1 global destination for the second successive year in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023.

“The H1 industry performance is a testament to the future-oriented strategy of our visionary leadership to position Dubai as the best city in the world to visit, live and work,” said Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing. “Within a highly competitive global tourism ecosystem, Dubai has continued to accelerate momentum and stay ahead of the curve, primarily by highlighting the diversity of the city’s offerings and the flexibility of our portfolio.”

Kazim said that collaboration and fostering multi-level partnerships between the public and private sectors form the backbone of Dubai’s tourism sector.