Mega projects and 2022-23 growth surge give Dubai’s tourism sector a strong head start

Mega projects and 2022-23 growth surge give Dubai’s tourism sector a strong head start

Dubai’s tourism industry has begun the year 2023 on a bright note with vital growth indicators closing in on pre-pandemic levels, giving the emirate a head start in the race to achieve its strategic long-term targets over the next decade.

With public and private sector players rolling out a series of mega projects and major global hospitality brands making a beeline to invest in the emirate, tourism is set to be a big contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s goal of doubling the city’s economy in the next 10 years. With Dubai expanding its status as a global gateway for trade and investment and its role as a bridge between markets and cultures, tourism is expected to grow in parallel. In 2022, the emirate’s tourism sector contributed $29.4 billion to its economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Dubai’s ambitious plans for tourism growth also support a national strategy launched in November last year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to attract Dh100 billion in additional tourism investments and receive 40 million hotel guests in 2031. The plan, which includes 25 initiatives and policies,