Dubai's 14 Million Foreign Visitors Last Year Nudges Closer to 2019 High

Dubai received 14.36 million international overnight visitors in 2022, growing 97 percent year-on-year from the 7.28 million tourist arrivals in 2021, according to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. In 2019, the city had welcomed a record 16.73 million international overnight visitors. The strong performance in 2022 features some noteworthy spikes in Dubai’s traditional key markets and strong growth across emerging markets. Dubai remained a first-choice safe travel destination for visitors from the city’s stronghold markets. Western Europe and Gulf regions each accounted for a 21 percent share of arrivals. The Gulf region in particular saw an exponential increase in their share of arrivals from 13 percent in 2021 to 21 percent last year. South Asia contributed 17 percent of total volumes while the Middle East and North Africa region contributed 12 percent, further reinforcing Dubai’s continued appeal to travelers from proximity markets. The Americas accounted for seven percent of arrivals while North Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa each contributed five percent and Australasia accounted for two percent.

Airlines in the Middle East saw a 157.4 percent rise in passenger traffic in 2022 compared to 2021, according to a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). International traffic in 2022 climbed 152.7 percent versus 2021 and reached 62.2 percent of 2019 levels. Revealing the results for the Middle East market, IATA noted that capacity increased 73.8 percent and load factor climbed 24.6 percentage points to 75.8 percent. December demand climbed 69.8 percent compared to the same month in 2021. “The industry left 2022 in far stronger shape than it entered, as most governments lifted Covid-19 travel restrictions during the year and people took advantage of the restoration of their freedom to travel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Walsh said the momentum is expected to continue in 2023, despite the over-reaction of some government to China’s re-opening.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has signed a deal for three new hotels in Saud