Dubai charts roadmap for new era of tourism growth
As Dubai looks to build on its record tourism growth, the emirate is intensifying efforts to sustain visitor pipelines, reinforce its reputation as one of the world's safest and most reliable travel destinations, and keep itself firmly on travellers' radar across key global markets.
Central to this strategy is a year-round calendar of major events, international exhibitions, sporting spectacles and cultural attractions that continue to drive demand and encourage repeat visitation.
Speaking during the City Briefing, officials highlighted how Dubai's tourism and hospitality ecosystem is maintaining strong momentum through coordinated global marketing campaigns, strategic partnerships and continuous investment in visitor experiences. With the city promoting a clear message that it remains safe, fully operational and welcoming to international travellers, industry stakeholders are also using current market conditions to invest in property upgrades and enhancements, ensuring Dubai's hospitality offering remains among the most competitive globally as it enters its next phase of growth.
The bi-annual City Briefing, convened by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) with key industry stakeholders on June 3 at the Dubai Opera, brought together more than 1,700 leaders from across the tourism, aviation, hospitality, retail and events sectors, as well as government officials and members of the media.
Officials highlighted that today, forward-thinking hoteliers are seizing current market conditions as a strategic opportunity to reinvest. By channeling focus into world-class renovations and property enhancements now, the sector is ensuring its products remain at the cutting edge of hospitality as Dubai looks towards its next chapter of growth, they said.
Demonstration of resolve
At a time of shifting regional dynamics, the gathering, which attracted record attendance for a DET City Briefing, was a definitive demonstration of Dubai's unity and forward resolve and a reflection of the deep public-private partnership that has long positioned the city among the world's foremost destinations for business and leisure.
Held in the presence of Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DET, the briefing for DET’s stakeholders and partners aimed to align on strategy, reinforce operational continuity, and accelerate delivery of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 at a pivotal moment for the sector, as it navigates evolving conditions while sustaining growth and global competitiveness.
The briefing featured a comprehensive industry overview structured around three distinct pillars: the coordinated industry response to regional developments; the resilience demonstrated across the tourism sector as well as recent innovative initiatives; and a forward-focused outlook on major initiatives, events, and developments set to define Dubai’s trajectory in the second half of 2026.
Agile tourism ecosystem
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we have built a tourism ecosystem that is coordinated, agile and globally connected. This operating model combined with the support of our stakeholders and partners, along with a diversified market strategy, has been central to the continued resilience of Dubai’s tourism sector. The city’s response to recent developments also reflects a mature institutional framework built on long-standing collaboration between the public and private sectors, enabling decisive action and steady performance.
“As we transition into the second half of 2026, our focus remains on sustaining long-term growth and strengthening global competitiveness. We continue to evolve Dubai’s tourism and economic proposition in line with our ambitions and the priorities of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, as we move forward with clarity, confidence and shared purpose.”
Ahmed Al Khaja, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: “Events remain a critical engine of growth for Dubai’s tourism economy, driving visitation, supporting businesses, and creating year-round demand. Guided by Dubai’s bold and forward-thinking leadership, our events strategy continues to evolve from a strong foundation into a global benchmark for excellence, diversity and innovation.
“A thriving, year-round events calendar is one of the most powerful drivers of economic activity, and the pipeline we have ahead for the remainder of 2026 is a direct reflection of our confidence and ambition. The strength of Dubai’s events ecosystem is grounded in the public-private partnerships that underpin it. Working closely with our partners, we are curating programmes that enhance Dubai’s global appeal and contribute directly to the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.”
Response: Immediate, coordinated and decisive
The attendees were briefed on how, from the earliest stages of the regional situation, DET and its partners moved swiftly to safeguard Dubai’s visitor economy. Following the lead of the UAE’s decisive leadership, immediate action was taken to maintain stability: the rapid activation of contingency frameworks; close coordination with the airport and aviation partners Emirates and flydubai to ensure rerouted flights maintained connectivity for travellers; the provision of real-time guidance to operators across the hospitality and entertainment sectors through channels including the Dubai Info Hub WhatsApp channels, as well as clear, consistent messaging to reinforce Dubai’s position among international markets worldwide.
Matching this private sector solidarity with decisive institutional action, the Government of Dubai announced a landmark AED2.5 billion package, directly supporting the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors. Structured to protect business continuity, preserve employment at scale and maintain the integrity of the visitor and resident experience, the package encompassed targeted financial relief for qualifying operators and expedited regulatory and licensing processes.
Together, these measures ensured continuity across key touchpoints of the visitor journey while maintaining service standards and operational stability, as well as demonstrating the solid institutional framework and crisis preparedness that continue to set Dubai apart as a top global destination.
Resilience: An industry that united and delivered
Dubai entered 2026 from a position of strength, with record-breaking international visitation in 2025, 6.4% GDP growth in Q4 2025, and a remarkable 95.2 million passengers welcomed through Dubai International Airport, confirming that the city is advancing with precision toward its D33 Agenda objectives.
Across every segment of Dubai’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem, the story of recent months has been one of agility and collaboration. Restaurants offered dining initiatives to sustain commercial activity and footfall while hotels extended preferential rates, innovative value-add packages and flexible booking policies to visitors. Across every segment of the sector, industry partners operated as a community, a direct reflection of the relationship that has been built and reinforced through years of public-private engagement under DET’s leadership.
Initiatives such as ‘Dubai, A Fine Way to Dine’, a targeted programme launched to support the fine dining sector, and ‘Dubai Restaurant Week’ have also been instrumental in maintaining momentum. By offering curated promotions at the city’s F&B outlets, these initiatives successfully encouraged residents to explore both new and established restaurants while bolstering the wider gastronomy sector. Beyond this, Dubai’s chefs have actively supported one another through industry-led initiatives. From grassroots ‘industry takeovers’, where chefs visit and support each other’s venues, to collaborative ‘Family Meal’ programmes that support hospitality workers, the culinary community has come together to offer one another support.
This collective response extended beyond the culinary community. Dubai’s resilience is etched into the daily lives of its people and this collective spirit has been strikingly visible over the past few weeks. From the sea of national flags proudly hoisted above neighbourhood villas to the gatherings at Kite Beach and Nad Al Sheba, where residents leave warm messages as part of the ‘We Love Dubai’ initiative, a sense of community and togetherness has prevailed. From long-term expats to Emirati families, these communities continue to serve as Dubai’s most passionate advocates, proving that its most durable characteristic is the solidarity of its residents.
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