Dubai welcomes 8.68 million foreign tourists in first five months of 2025

Between January and May 2025, Dubai welcomed 8.68 million foreign tourists, which is 7 per cent more than in the same period last year. In May alone, the city welcomed 1.53 million guests, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS, citing the emirate's Department of Economy and Tourism.

Among the leaders in terms of tourist numbers are the CIS countries, including Russia, and Eastern Europe (16 per cent), South Asia (14 per cent) and the Persian Gulf states (15 per cent). The contribution of the Middle East and North Africa (11 per cent) and North-East and South-East Asia (9 per cent) also increased significantly.

It is noted that the hotel sector has expanded: at the end of May, there were 825 hotels operating in Dubai with a total of 153,356 rooms. The average hotel occupancy rate was 83 per cent, which is 2 percentage points higher than last year.

According to the agency, the average length of stay in the city is about 4 nights.

Photo: iStock