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Hosting more than 8.5 million international visitors during the first half of 2023, Dubai is cementing its position as one of the major global tourist destinations. This marks a 2 million tourist increase since the last recorded 6 million in April. In 2022, Dubai welcomed more than 14 million international tourists, according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

The emirate also emerged as one of the world’s three most attractive cities for the wealthy and one of the fastest-recovering cities since the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, tweeted on Sunday.

Reviewing a report on the main highlights of the emirate’s economic performance in the January to June period, Sheikh Hamdan added, “Dubai achieved new levels of growth and was at the forefront of many economic fields. Dubai continues to reinforce its position as a major global economic hub and will always be the best place to live and work worldwide.”

He noted that the emirate’s economic performance indicators during the first half of 2023 have been shaping beyond expectations. “Such accomplishments are a testament to the trust placed by major investors, international institutions, and business leaders in Dubai,” he said.

Dubai has been recognized as the world’s top-ranked destination in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023 for the second consecutive year running. The Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, aims to place Dubai on the map as one of the top three destinations for tourism and business, a goal that Sheikh Hamdan echoed, saying, “We look forward to a new, strong beginning in 2024, during which we seek to further enhance the business environment and accelerate economic growth in order to contribute to the goals of Dubai Economic Agenda D33.”

On top of this achievement, the emirate has solidified its status globally as one of the top three hubs for wealth owners and one of the fastest-recovering cities since the Covid-19 pandemic, shared the Dubai Crown Prince. This attraction for wealth owners aligns with the D33 objective of increasing foreign direct investment inflow to an annual average of $16.27 over the coming decade.