Dubai’s tourism sector witnessed the opening of 80 new hotel establishments across various categories from December 2019 to December 2023. Among them, approximately 37 hotels fall under the 5-star category, showcasing the continued attraction of hotel investments in Dubai despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data from the Department of Economy and Tourism revealed that around 80 new hotel establishments entered the market over the four-year period, including 17 hotels and hotel apartment facilities in 2023 across different categories.
The data further indicated that Dubai’s hotel sector welcomed 24,170 new hotel rooms over the four years, with 3,795 rooms added to the hotel market in the past year alone. The total number of hotel rooms increased from 126,120 in December 2019 to 150,291 by the end of December 2023.
Many global and local hotel chains are looking to expand their presence in Dubai to capitalize on the tourism recovery the emirate is experiencing. This is in line with government plans to accelerate tourism momentum to achieve ambitious levels, aligning with Dubai’s economic agenda, known as “D33,” aiming to sustain economic growth and establish Dubai among the top three global cities for tourism and business over the next decade.
Marriott plans to open 10 new hotel projects in Dubai soon, while InterContinental intends to open 7 new hotel facilities in Dubai with a total of 1,221 hotel rooms. Accor Group has confirmed the opening of 4 new hotel establishments.
Dubai continues to register robust visitor numbers compared to the previous year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels in various indicators such as international tourist arrivals, hotel room numbers, booked nights, average daily rates, and room revenue averages.