STR’s hotel data finds that Dubai has achieved its highest hotel occupancy rate since 2016 in September 2023.
The city’s occupancy stood at 77.6% in September, with a year-on-year change of 10%.
Meanwhile, the average daily rate was Dh457.21, an increase of 2.7%. This is reportedly Dubai’s highest for any September since 2017.
The revenue available per room (RevPAR) was Dh354.94, a significant increase of 13.5%.
Daily data shows that the highest hotel occupancy levels in Dubai were during the last three days of the month, led by 29 September (93.1%) which was the UAE’s public holiday marking the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
STR states that Dubai’s occupancy remained above the 70.0% mark throughout the month with the exception of three days.
Dubai has recently invested more into its hotel industry, launching the “Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp” to recognise hotels that adhere to sustainability standards.
The city’s improved rates are part of a wave of hospitality and residential development projects sweeping across the Middle East, totalling a staggering $1.9tn.
For the UAE’s travel and tourism market specifically, the top five source markets are India, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UK and Russia. In 2022, the country’s international arrivals grew by 96.4%, with GlobalData citing it as the Middle East’s fastest-growing tourism source market.
