UAE Hotel Establishments Generate AED11 billion, 20% Growth in Q1 2022

The UAE’s tourism sector achieved a new growth milestone in Q1 2022. During the first quarter of this year, the national tourism sector exceeded the growth rates recorded not only in 2020 and 2021, but also during the same period in 2019.

The UAE's hotel establishments generated a total revenue of AED 11 billion with a 20% growth compared to the same period in 2019 and resumed operations at full capacity of approximately 200,000 hotel rooms.

India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Russia, and the United States of America topped the list of international tourists.

Hotels attracted nearly 6 million visitors who spent 25 million hotel nights, that’s 10% growth compared to the same period in 2019.

The average duration of hotel guest stays reached 25% during the same period, up from 3 nights to 4 nights. The hotels occupancy rate during this period achieved 80% growth.

Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs and Chairman of the UAE Tourism Council said "It is one of the best years in terms of economic growth in general and tourism in particular, and this confirms the strong comeback of the sector thanks to the forward-looking vision of the UAE’s wise leadership."

Major events played a huge role in this growth including Expo 2020 Dubai, which attracted more than 24 million visitors over six months, and ‘Worlds’s Coolest Winter’ campaign in its second edition, with over one and a half months generated a total revenue of AED 1.5 billion and attracted more than 1.3 million local tourists.