In yet another remarkable annual performance, Dubai welcomed 18.72 million international overnight visitors from January to December 2024, a 9% year-over-year increase that surpasses the previous record of 17.15 million in 2023, according to data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
Marking consecutive years of record-setting growth for the city, the achievement reinforces the city’s position as one of the world’s leading travel destinations, and demonstrates the success of its strategic approach in expanding the sector and investing in infrastructure and talent to meet growing demand.
Impactful local and international partnerships, creative and targeted global campaigns, and major events were among the key contributing factors that drove Dubai’s tourism sector to another record-breaking year in 2024.
Guided by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the increase in international visitation aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033.
It also builds on Dubai’s ranking as the number one city globally for FDI into tourism, among other sectors, according to the Financial Times Ltd’s ‘fDi Markets’ data for H1 2024, and the announcement of key infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of the Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), that will provide the platform for strategic growth, further optimising the destination experience for all visitors and residents.
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