The UAE's hospitality sector delivered robust results in 2025, with hotel guest numbers rising 5.1% year-on-year to more than 32 million, according to a work report on the UAE tourism sector reviewed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Hotel establishment revenues climbed to AED 49.21 billion, a 9.7% increase on 2024, underlining the sector's expanding commercial footprint. The country's total hotel room inventory reached 217,000 across more than 1,240 establishments, with an occupancy rate of 79.5% – among the highest in the region and globally. Hotel nights for the year hit 100 million.
The UAE also ranked first in MENA and 18th worldwide in the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024, reinforcing its standing as a premier global destination.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer