Dubai, United Arab Emirates - In first place. Photo: Shutterstock Dubai continues to establish its status as a leading global tourism destination, with impressive visitor statistics indicating steady growth.
According to data released by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the city welcomed 5.31 million international tourists from January to March 2025, a 3% increase from 5.18 million tourists during the same period in 2024.
Dubai maintains its status as a key tourist destination, thanks to advanced infrastructure, a lenient tourism policy, and diverse attractions.
Consistent Growth Trend: -2025-2023-2024
Dubai has recorded impressive tourism growth in recent years.
In 2023, the city hosted 17.15 million international tourists, a 19.4% increase from 14.36 million in 2022, according to DET reports.
In 2024, the trend continued with 18.72 million tourists throughout the year, a 9% increase compared to 2023, as published by PassportNews.
These figures reflect Dubai's ability to attract visitors from around the world, overcoming global challenges such as economic crises and fluctuations in the aviation market, and the numbers in the first quarter of 2025 prove that the trend will not only continue but is also increasing.
Dubai International Airport, the busiest in the world for international flights, served approximately 92.5 million passengers in 2024. The city plans to establish a new airport, which will be the largest in the world with a capacity of 260 million passengers annually, with an investment of 35 billion dollars.
The new airport is expected to accommodate 260 million passengers a year. For comparison, the world's busiest airport today - Atlanta - handled 104.6 million passengers last year. At DXB airport in Dubai, the second busiest globally, 92.5 million passengers were processed last year.
The new airport is planned to have no fewer than five parallel runways and 400 boarding gates for aircraft.
Strategic Plans
The national tourism strategy aims to attract 25 million tourists annually by 2031, while the Dubai Urban 2040 plan focuses on expanding beach areas by 400% and developing artificial islands like Palm Jebel Ali, initiatives that promise continued tourism growth.
Digital Innovation: Events like Expo 2020 occurred at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, which continued to draw 15 million visitors after they ended, and virtual platforms strengthen Dubai's status as a technological and tourism hub.
Captivating Israeli Tourists
Since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, Dubai has become a central destination for Israeli tourists.
In the first quarter of 2025, about 315,441 Israelis flew to Dubai, a 130% increase compared to 2024, as reported by PassportNews, establishing it as the top destination for Israelis this year.
Dubai's accessibility, with direct flights of about three hours from Israel via Israeli airlines EL-AL, Arkia, Israir alongside 8 daily Fly Dubai flights, and visa exemptions for Israelis, contributes to the high demand. Dubai also serves as a popular transit hub for connecting flights, replacing Istanbul as the regional aviation hub for Israelis, a process that has intensified since the "Iron Swords" war with the cessation of flights to Istanbul.
Tourism-Driven Economy
Tourism is a central pillar of Dubai's economy, contributing 186 billion dirhams (approximately 50.6 billion dollars) in 2023.
The city offers more than 800 hotels with 150,000 rooms, with 78% of visitors choosing 5-star hotels, according to DET. The hotel occupancy rate stood at 77% in 2023.
This infrastructure, alongside major international events, continues to attract visitors and drive economic growth.
Looking Ahead
Dubai continues to set ambitious targets. With a plan to attract 23-25 million international tourists by the end of 2025, the city is investing in projects such as expanding the red metro line, developing innovative museums like the Museum of the Future, and promoting sustainable tourism.
The 2040 plan, which includes doubling hotel and leisure areas, ensures Dubai's status as a global leader remains intact.
