3% growth of Dubai tourists during the first quarter

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Dubai April 24 /WAM /His Excellency Issam Kazem, Executive Director of the Dubai Tourism and Trade Marketing Foundation said that Dubai recorded an increase of 3% on an annual basis in the number of international visitors during the first quarter of 2025.

Kazem added, during a conference held by “RX Global” organizing the Arab Travel Market Exhibition 2025 and its strategic partners today, in Dubai, that the growth witnessed by the Arab travel market in terms of numbers, participation and new markets that open its doors is completely in line with the directions in Dubai as well.
He added: We have achieved records in the number of visitors in 2023, and in 2024 we also achieved 9% growth when the number of visitors to Dubai reached about 18.73 million tourists.

The Arab Travel Market Exhibition 2025, which kicks off early next week at the Dubai World Trade Center, is witnessing a remarkable momentum with the participation of more than 55 thousand visitors from 161 countries, to confirm its position as a leading platform that brings together the most prominent global and professional leaders in the travel and tourism sector.
More than 125 exhibitors from the partners and concerned parties participate with the Dubai Economy and Tourism Department in the pavilion.

Kazem said that this embodies the excellence of our dynamic system, as well as close cooperation and partnerships that make up our tourist approach .. Through the buying program, we will receive more than 300 buyers who represent 39 countries, to enable them to identify the hospitality sector in Dubai and its unique experiences.
Daniel Curtis, director of the exhibition in the Middle East, confirmed that this year’s session is witnessing unprecedented growth on an annual basis.
She added, the continent of Asia this year is the most prominent engine for growth, as it recorded an increase of 20%, not only in terms of countries but also through the expansion of participation from new cities and regions within these countries, which reflects the development of air linking and the expansion of airlines.
She explained that the technology sector in the exhibition records significant growth compared to last year, which reflects the frequency of accelerating innovation in the tourism sector.
She pointed out that the exhibition is witnessing 17% growth in participation from the Middle East, driven by new tourism projects in the Gulf, as well as a diversity of posts from Latin America, North America and the Caribbean.
For his part, Adnan Kazem, Vice President and CEO of Commercial Operations at Emirates Airlines, said that the carrier continues to implement its plan to modernize the fleet as part of a program that includes 219 aircraft with a budget of $ 5 billion.
He added: We have finished updating 51 aircraft so far, and we expect the number to rise to 87 by the end of 2025, indicating that the updated planes currently cover 36 destinations, and will reach 73 destinations at the end of this year.
He stated that Emirates Airlines will receive between 12 to 15 Airbus A350 aircraft by the end of the summer.
On the travel market, Kazem said, the exhibition this year carries the slogan “World Travel: Developing Future Tourism by promoting communication”, special importance and is closely in line with the future Emirates Airlines strategy.
In turn, Haitham Matar, head of IHG hotels and resorts for the India, the Middle East and Africa, said: The logo of the Arab travel market for this year is compatible with “strengthening communication”, with our vision in enriching travel experiences and enhancing digital and human ties that give an exceptional nature of guest trips.
He added, the Arab travel market represents a unique platform to celebrate our achievements, offer our expanding portfolio, and enhance cooperation towards a prosperous future for the travel industry.
In the same context, Mohamed Al -Rayes, Executive Director of Al -Rayes Travel Company, said: In our capacity as the official partner of the DMC tourist management at the Arab Travel Market Exhibition 2025, the slogan of this year “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow Tourism by enhancing interdependence” completely reflects the sector’s directive, and we believe that the strongest partnerships and the best coordination between the parties operating in the sector are the basis for building a flexible tourist sector, innovative, and ready for future requirements.
Jonathan Hessti, director of the travel sector portfolio in RX Global, expected that the growth achieved by this year’s version of the exhibition will add more vitality … He said, “As a global, rapidly developed forum, linking high -growth tourist areas with global level infrastructure and leading innovations, we will see the next chapter of the world travel story with its launch next week.”