Dubai most open city in post-pandemic era
DXB PASSENGER TRAFFIC, HOTEL OCCUPANCY ON THE RISE
Dubai welcomed nearly four million international overnight visitors between January and March this year, a 214 per cent growth from last year, reaffirming its reputation as the most open city in the post-pandemic world.
Dubai also ranked No 1 globally in hotel occupancy, which reached 82 per cent in the first quarter. Dubai International Airport (DXB) remains the world’s busiest airport by international passenger numbers for the eighth consecutive year.
It handled 29.1 million passengers in 2021 and recorded its busiest quarter since 2020, with 13.6 million passengers in the first quarter of 2022. In March alone, DXB handled 5.5 million visitors thanks to Dubai Expo 2020, an extended Global Village and host of events.
The 25th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises and other family-friendly events are set to substantially increase tourist arrivals and strengthen Dubai’s appeal as a tourism hotspot.
High vaccination rate
Apart from its diverse travel and tourism experiences, confidence in health and safety protocols has played a major role in Dubai’s popularity. The city has one of the world’s most comprehensive precautionary regimes as well as one of the highest vaccination rates.
The six-month Expo 2020 Dubai saw 192 participating countries and attracted over 24 million visits by residents and global travellers.
Last year also saw Dubai strengthen its status as one of the world’s top ranked health tourism destinations with 630,000 international health tourists, according to a report released by the Dubai Health Authority. Spending of international patients reached nearly Dh730 million despite the pandemic.
In 2021,Dubai’s sports sector emerged as a key driver of the city’s tourism recovery, attracting visitors from around the world.
Expo 2020 Dubai, an extended Global Village season, an airport that is once again the world’s busiest and hotel capacity bursting at the seams — Dubai has everything going for it as the city leaps out of the Covid-induced sluggishness that afflicted leading cities and economies the world over.
The Arabian Travel Market 2022, which concluded last week, attracted more than 23,000 visitors from across the world at its first full-capacity event since the pandemic. The four-day event, which doubled its visitors from last year, brought together 1,500 exhibitors and attendees from 150 countries, demonstrating Dubai’s reputation as the world’s most open city in the post-pandemic era.
AVIATION RECOVERY
Dubai is currently hosting the Airport Show where CEOs and leaders from the global aviation sector are showcasing the latest solutions that will shape the future of the industry.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, said the event is timed perfectly to boost the global aviation industry, which is beginning to return to pre-pandemic levels with high demand for travel.
TOURISM HOTSPOT
Dubai welcomed almost four million international overnight visitors between January and March 2022, a massive 214 per cent growth from last year, reaffirming its position as the first choice destination for global travellers. The city also ranked No 1 in hotel occupancy in the first quarter of 2022 at 82 per cent.
Dubai International (DXB) continued to be the world’s busiest airport by international passenger numbers for the eighth consecutive year, clocking 29.1 million in annual traffic in 2021. DXB also recorded its busiest quarter since 2020, with 13.6 million passengers shuttling through its gateway in the first quarter of 2022.
Passenger traffic in the emirate’s airports surpassed the 10 million mark for the second consecutive quarter in Q1 2022. In March this year alone, DXB saw 5.5 million visitors.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY
We should start seeing numbers getting a bit more realistic from where we left off by the end of this year or starting next.”
Dubai’s hotels hit close to 90 per cent occupancy in the final weeks of the Expo and the positive momentum continued into the Eid holiday period.
Dubai, which opened itself to international tourists in July 2020, welcomed almost four million international overnight visitors between January and March 2022, a massive 214 per cent growth from last year.
In an interview with Gulf News earlier, Dubai Tourism CEO Issam Kazim said he expects tourist numbers to be closer to 2019 levels by the end of 2022. “We should start seeing numbers getting a bit more realistic from where we left off [because of the pandemic] by the end of this year or starting next,” said Kazim.
Dubai Tourism is aiming to convert 25 per cent of firsttime international visitors into repeat visitors.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS
Popular family-friendly events in the last six months continued to raise Dubai’s profile as a major destination for culture, shopping, and entertainment. The 26th season of Global Village concluded recently with a record-breaking 7.8 million visitors. Its longest season ever, Global Village was open for 194 days, four more than its previous record. In addition, the ongoing Dubai Food Festival, and the 25th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises, the region’s biggest festival of its kind, are set to substantially increase tourist arrivals and strengthen Dubai’s appeal as a summer tourism hotspot.
With 12,000 restaurants and cafés, Dubai has also been steadily growing as a gastronomic hotspot.
TOP MICE DESTINATION
In 2021, Dubai established itself as the world’s leading MICE destination, hosting a number of events that put it at the heart of global conversations on the recovery of key sectors. According to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, the city has captured a total of 120 events for the year 2021 and beyond that are set to bring together a total of 70,000 opinion leaders, government officials and industry professionals.
Expo 2020 Dubai, the largest event in the history of World Expos, saw 192 participating countries coming together for ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ in a celebration of culture, innovation and science. The six-month mega global extravaganza attracted over 24 million visits by residents and global travellers.
HEALTH TOURISM
The past year also saw Dubai strengthening its status as one of the world’s top ranked health tourism destinations with 630,000 international health tourists, according to a report released by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Spending of international patients reached nearly Dh730 million in the past year despite the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Dubai’s emergence as one of the most open destinations in the post-pandemic world reflects its ability to reinvent itself in an evolving global environment. The vast international diversity of its visitors also demonstrates Dubai’s growing status as a city that bridges global markets and cultures.
Apart from its diverse travel and tourism experiences, confidence in health and safety protocols has played a major role in Dubai’s popularity. The city has one of the world’s most comprehensive precautionary regimes as well as one of the highest vaccination rates.
Issam Kazim | Dubai Tourism CEO