Dubai welcomes 5.31m visitors in Q1
Dubai welcomed 5.31 million international visitors from January to March 2025, a 3% year-on-year increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to new data published by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The robust growth demonstrated the city’s continued global appeal, building on the overall 9% growth in 2024 to 18.72 million international overnight visitors, and putting Dubai on course to set new benchmarks following consecutive record years. From January to March 2025, the Western Europe region was Dubai’s biggest source market with 1.15 million visitors, a 22% overall share, followed by CIS and Eastern Europe with 891,000 (17%) and GCC with 772,000 visitors (15%). South Asia and MENA were fourth and fifth, accounting for 752,000 (14%) and 620,000 (12%) visitors. The North-East Asia and South-East Asia region recorded 474,000 visitors to Dubai (a 9% share), followed by the Americas 374,000 (7%), Africa 197,000 (4%) and Australasia 78,000 (1%). dnata Travel partners with Maldives dnata Travel has announced a new partnership with state-owned Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) ahead of peak summer travel season. The joint initiative leverages the Maldives’ strong appeal as a top-selling destination among UAE residents. Travellers can expect exclusive holiday packages, tailored promotions, and curated experiences across dnata Travel’s digital and retail platforms. The campaign will run till July 2025. Insights from dnata Travel reveal that UAE travellers – particularly families and high-profile guests – consistently prioritise privacy, exclusivity, and luxury. These preferences are reflected in the Maldives’ signature one-island-one-resort concept. Qatar sees surge in visitor numbers in Q1 Qatar’s tourism sector began 2025 with strong momentum, welcoming over 1.5 million international visitors between January and March. This surge was driven by an integrated tourism strategy that combines high-profile events, strategic partnerships, and diversified destination experiences. Visitors from GCC countries accounted for (36%), followed by Europe (28%) and Asia and Oceania (20%), reinforcing Qatar’s growing appeal across varied markets. Visitor arrivals by air was 51% of the total, by land 34% and sea 15%. Sri Lanka, dnata Travel announce partnership DUBAI-based dnata Travel has announced collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), supporting the island nation’s push to attract more visitors from the Gulf and the wider region. Announced at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, the collaboration comes as tourist arrivals from the UAE grew by 28% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to the SLTDA. The surge is driven by a rise in premium leisure travel and short-break holidays, with GCC travellers drawn to Sri Lanka’s blend of nature, culture, adventure, and wellness – all just over four hours away by flight. Through the new strategic alliance, dnata Travel and SLTDA will jointly promote curated travel experiences, destination awareness campaigns, and tailored offers for Gulf travellers looking for unique escapes. Strong Italian presence at ATM The Italian Tourist Board (ENIT) marked a notable presence at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 in Dubai, bolstered by new figures highlighting Italy’s growing popularity among tourists from the region. As shown by airport flows, Italy is expected to clock up 964,440 arrivals from Middle Eastern markets during this year, an overall growth of 21.1% compared to the previous year. The number expected from the UAE alone (the area's number one market of origin into Italy) is 310,302 arrivals, accounting for 32.2% of the total, with growth of over 16% on 2024. The main reasons for travelling are personal, with holidays accounting for 37.5% of the total. Another reason for travelling to Italy from Dubai and Abu Dhabi are luxury and high-end shopping. Italy is also number one in the world ranking for luxury travel destinations as forecast for 2025, confirming its status as a landmark destination for international wedding ceremonies, with 15,100 foreign couples choosing Italy (+11.4%).