Dubai ranked 12th in the Top 100 City Destinations 2025 by Euromonitor International — the highest result among cities in the Middle East and Africa. The ranking is based on six key criteria: tourism appeal, infrastructure, sustainability, economic activity, safety, and service quality.

Paris once again topped the list, and Abu Dhabi and Doha also entered the top ranks, reinforcing the Gulf region’s growing influence in global tourism.

Dubai’s high ranking is driven by:

• increasing tourist arrivals

• a packed calendar of international events

• one of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the world

In the first half of 2025, hotel occupancy reached 81% (up 4.5 p.p. year-on-year). Tourist arrivals rose to 10 million, an increase of 6.1%.

Dubai even surpassed Paris in total international visitors —
19.5 million vs. 18.3 million, ranking 6th globally (+9% vs. 2024).
Key markets: India, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Russia.

Dubai also ranked:

• among the global top 3 destinations in Google search

• among the top 3 most booked cities of 2025 (along with Tokyo and London)

Experts highlight Dubai’s strong marketing, extensive air connectivity, and the integration of AI in tourism.

Top 15 Tourist Cities 2025

1. Paris
2. Madrid
3. Tokyo
4. Rome
5. Milan
6. New York
7. Amsterdam
8. Barcelona
9. Singapore
10. Seoul
11. Osaka
12. Dubai
13. Los Angeles
14. Orlando
15. Taipei

Dubai Strengthens Its Status as a Global MICE Hub

Dubai Business Events (DBE), the emirate’s official convention bureau, completed its participation in IBTM World 2025 in Barcelona, reaffirming Dubai’s leadership in business tourism.

The Dubai delegation included 32 major industry partners, representing Emirates, Expo City Dubai, Coca-Cola Arena, and other flagship venues. The city showcased its capabilities for hosting major global events and conferences.

Key achievements of 2025:

• 1st place globally in participation numbers for a single association conference (ICCA ranking)

• leadership in the MENA region by number of hosted meetings

• large-scale investments in business events infrastructure

These achievements align with Dubai’s economic strategy D33 aimed at strengthening global competitiveness.

Main theme of the year: “People. Power. Potential.”

Participation in IBTM World highlighted the emirate’s core values — collaboration, innovation, and building international connections. Dubai aims to become a global platform where industry leaders can share expertise and launch joint projects.

DBE held dozens of meetings with potential partners, further strengthening Dubai’s position as a leading MICE hub.

Record Bids and Industry Growth

In the first half of 2025, DBE received 249 confirmed bids for events through 2029 (+29% y/y). These events will attract more than 127,000 delegates (+35%).

Growing interest in business tourism is boosting demand for hotels, services, and real estate.

Meanwhile, overall tourism continues to grow:
in the first nine months of 2025, Dubai welcomed 13.95 million visitors (+5% y/y).

DXB remains the world’s busiest airport, ensuring a stable flow of guests for both leisure and business travel.

Infrastructure Prepared for the Future

Infrastructure development is a key driver of tourism and MICE growth:

• expansion of Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City

• airport modernization

• hotel sector expansion

• creation of innovative event venues
  

These projects strengthen Dubai’s status as one of the world’s most technologically advanced and convenient cities for international events.

Dubai continues to steadily reinforce its influence in global tourism and the MICE industry.