Dubai welcomed approximately 6.97 million international overnight visitors during the first eight months of 2026, reinforcing the emirate’s position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. The figures were released by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism as the Arabian Travel Market 2026 opened in Dubai.
Around 869,000 international visitors arrived in August alone, making it Dubai’s strongest monthly visitor figure since February. The latest numbers also follow month-on-month double-digit growth in visitor volumes since March, highlighting continued momentum in the city’s tourism sector.
Dubai’s hospitality industry has also maintained substantial activity. Hotels recorded 21.61 million occupied room nights between January and August, while hotel occupancy reached 66% in August. The emirate’s hotel inventory approached 149,000 rooms across hundreds of establishments by the end of August.
Dubai continues to attract visitors from a diverse range of international markets. Western Europe accounted for 20% of visitors during the first eight months, followed by South Asia at 17%, the GCC at 16%, and the CIS and Eastern Europe at 14%. This broad international reach strengthens Dubai’s position as a globally connected destination.
The figures underline the strength of Dubai’s tourism infrastructure, international connectivity and hospitality ecosystem. Continued investment in hotels, attractions, transport and visitor experiences is supporting the emirate’s long-term tourism ambitions.
The latest performance also supports the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reinforcing Dubai’s vision of remaining a leading global destination for tourism, business and investment.
