Dubai’s tourist industry is displaying its strength, with the city’s hotel sector producing consistent performance growth, according to the most recent data issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and tourist (DET) ahead of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 opening day.
Performance through August reflects the strength of the systems, alliances, and diverse market base that Dubai and its partners have built over time. It demonstrates the resolve of an industry that has continued to develop, innovate, and deliver for its guests, and it reinforces confidence in the destination’s position as we approach the end of 2026.
Hotel occupancy reached 66% in August, accounting for 89% of the city’s occupancy levels in August 2025 and continuing a sharp ascent from 36% in March 2026. This steady rising trend is a strong indication of underlying demand and the strength of Dubai’s hotel industry. As a number of facilities began conducting large remodelling projects to improve the guest experience and prepare for the future, hotel room inventory topped 149,000 by the end of August 2026. In the first eight months of the year, the emirate’s hotels recorded 21.61 million occupied room nights, demonstrating the industry’s continued growth.
The robust hotel performance was echoed in tourist numbers, with Dubai welcoming about 869,000 international overnight visitors in August 2026, continuing its month-on-month, double-digit growth from March. This was its highest monthly volume since February 2026, bringing total international visitation to 6.97 million for the first eight months of the year.
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