International arrivals hit 869,000 in August, hotel occupancy climbs to 66%, as DET welcomes 300+ buyers from 40 countries to the Dubai World Trade Centre
Dubai’s tourism sector delivered sustained performance growth through August, according to data released by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, held 14–17 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Dubai welcomed approximately 869,000 international overnight visitors in August — its strongest monthly volume since February 2026 — bringing total international visitation to 6.97 million for the year so far, on the back of month-on-month double-digit growth since March.
That momentum was mirrored in the city’s hotel sector. Occupancy reached 66% in August, representing 89% of the city’s occupancy levels from the same month last year, and continuing a steep climb from 36% in March 2026. Room inventory approached 149,000 by the end of August, even as a number of properties undertake renovation projects aimed at elevating guest experience and future readiness. Across the first eight months of the year, Dubai’s hotels recorded 21.61 million occupied room nights.
Western Europe remained Dubai’s leading source region from January to August, accounting for 20% of visitation, followed by South Asia at 17%, the GCC at 16%, CIS and Eastern Europe at 14%, MENA at 10%, North East and South East Asia at 9%, the Americas at 7%, Africa at 5%, and Australasia at 2%. DET said this diversified mix supports the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to consolidate the city’s position as a leading global destination for both business and leisure travel.
“The true grit of any city is tested not when the path is smooth, but during challenging times, and in line with our leadership’s direction, we do not wait for the perfect conditions to continue delivering,” said His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET. “Arabian Travel Market marks an important opportunity to build on that progress and support our industry. It allows us to sit down with our partners from around the world, listen to what they are seeing in their markets, and work together on where the opportunities lie.”
DET is joined at ATM 2026 by more than 115 co-exhibitors spanning Dubai’s tourism ecosystem — hotel groups, attractions, destination management companies, aviation partners and government entities — reflecting the public-private partnership model underpinning the emirate’s tourism strategy. The department is also hosting more than 300 international travel trade professionals from over 40 countries through its ATM Hosted Buyers Programme, giving buyers direct access to tourism stakeholders and first-hand exposure to the destination’s evolving offering.
Across the show, DET and its partners are highlighting developments across hospitality, gastronomy, culture, entertainment, wellness, accessibility and sustainability, alongside continued work on strengthening global connectivity and expanding accessibility for autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors through initiatives including Dubai Sustainable Tourism and Dubai Can.
The results follow a period earlier this year when regional developments affected global travel patterns, prompting Dubai’s government to deliver an AED 2.5 billion support package for the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors. Global connectivity has since been rapidly rescaled, led by Emirates, which has restored 97% of its network, while load factors at Dubai International Airport (DXB) continue to strengthen toward 2025 levels.
DET’s participation at ATM will continue through the four-day event, with a programme of meetings, partner engagements and industry discussions focused on strengthening the emirate’s international tourism relationships and supporting demand into the remainder of 2026.