"Economy and tourism in Dubai" It reviews the achievements of 2025 and launches new incentives to enhance the growth of the tourism sector
Dubai, 10 December / WAM / The Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai organized the second regular meeting in 2025 to review the achievements achieved during the current year, discuss future growth plans, and enhance joint work that contributes to consolidating Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for business, entertainment and tourism.
The meeting, which was held in the Global Village, was attended by more than 1,200 participants from partners and stakeholders in the hospitality, aviation, retail and food sectors, in addition to representatives of government agencies and the media, in a step that reflects the scale of the broad partnership and the growing role of coordination between various sectors in supporting Dubai’s economic and tourism journey.
The meeting, which was held with the support of Dubai Entertainment Holding, witnessed a remarkable development in interactive presentation methods that reflected the spirit of innovation and the consolidation of partnership between the public and private sectors.
In the presence of His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director-General of the Department, His Excellency Issam Kazim, Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, reviewed the sector’s performance during the year, highlighting the continued upward growth in the number of international visitors, as Dubai received during the first ten months of 2025 more than fifteen million seven hundred thousand international visitors, a growth rate of 5 percent compared to the same period last year.
Hotel establishments also recorded an occupancy rate of 79.4 percent, in addition to an increase in the average daily room rate and revenue from available rooms, which reflects the strong demand for various categories of hotels in Dubai.
The meeting discussed the new investment incentives initiative aimed at encouraging expansion in the hospitality sector, which allows investors to recover the full municipal fee and the tourism dirham for a period of two years for newly licensed hotel establishments in strategic growth areas, including Dubai South, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Parks and Dubai Islands.
An extensive list of major future projects expected to be launched was also reviewed, including Sail Dubai Marina, the tallest hotel in the world, and new international hotels and resorts, in addition to infrastructure projects that include the Dubai Metro Blue Line and the development of pedestrian paths and urban corridors.
The meeting also discussed the achievements that Dubai celebrated during the year, including twenty years since the founding of the Dubai International Financial Centre, thirty years since the launch of Global Village, forty years since the founding of the Emirates Group, twenty years since the opening of the Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai, ten years since the Dubai Design District, and twenty-five years since the inauguration of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.
The upcoming major events were also highlighted, most notably the Dubai World Cup for Horses and the Dubai Fitness Challenge, which will celebrate its tenth year in 2026.
The meeting also focused on the importance of maintaining the quality of visitors’ experiences during the holy month of Ramadan 2026 by achieving a balance between Dubai’s welcoming of its visitors and preserving the cultural and social identity of the holy month, in light of expectations indicating strong levels of hotel reservations.
The participants discussed the impact of the international marketing campaigns launched by the department that highlighted Dubai as a preferred global destination, in addition to the continuous development of its position on the global food map after its restaurants were included in international lists of excellence, including the Michelin Guide.
The meeting witnessed dialogue sessions on the role of strategic partnerships in telling global tourism stories, as well as the future of the aviation sector and its role in enhancing air connectivity and increasing the emirate’s capacity in the coming years.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the department’s officials stressed that joint efforts, innovation, and expanding the scope of partnerships constitute essential elements in Dubai’s journey towards achieving sustainable growth during the year 2026 and beyond and consolidating its position as the best city in the world to live, work and visit.
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related
