Middle Eastern destinations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and emerging hotspots like Riyadh and Ras Al Khaimah, saw significant tourist inflows in 2023
Post-pandemic, the tourism and hospitality sector has not only recovered strongly but also emerged as a remarkable pillar of economic development. In the Middle East — a region that has been pivoting away from traditional, oil-based markets toward more diversified economies — the sector is playing an essential role.
In 2023, Middle Eastern destinations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and emerging hotspots like Riyadh and Ras Al Khaimah, saw significant tourist inflows. Dubai, for example, reported its highest-ever annual tourist arrivals: 17.15 million international overnight visitors. In the first two months of this year alone, data from the city’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) shows that Dubai has already attracted 3.67 million, up from 3.10 million in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Ras Al Khaimah’s visitor…