According to data from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), 4.67 million international overnight visitors were recorded in Dubai in comparison with 3.97 million tourists during the same period last year (2022). This is a 17% y-o-y surge and the best Q1 performance of Dubai since the pandemic.

Home
/
Blog
/
4.67 million tourists registered in Dubai during the first quarter of 2023

Published: 5 May 2023

These indicators place Dubai on track to becoming the most visited destination worldwide and contribute to the target of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 that enters Dubai in the top-3 cities globally. The initiative was presented by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in January of this year.

According to Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the outstanding growth in international visitation has been made possible by the far-ranging vision of the leadership to transform the emirate into the global hub for investment, talent, business and travel.

Dubai has become the fastest recovering destination globally after COVID-19, as it achieved 98% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter. The result surpassed the estimates of the United Nations World Trade Organisation, that global tourist arrivals could reach 80–95% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, particularly in Europe and the Middle East.

Another of Dubai’s remarkable accomplishments in this quarter is the accolade from Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023 for being the number one global destination. This is just the second time in history a city has won such an award for 2 consecutive years.