Australian travellers are playing a major role in Dubai’s tourism boom, with 333,000 Aussies visiting the city in 2025 as it recorded its third consecutive year of record-breaking growth.
The emirate welcomed 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which is up 5 per cent year-on-year from 18.72 million in 2024. In a milestone moment, Dubai also surpassed two million visitors in a single calendar month for the first time, welcoming 2.04 million international overnight guests in December alone.
Australasia accounted for 401,000 visitors in 2025, with Australia representing a dominant 83 per cent of that market – underlining Dubai’s strong pull for Australian leisure travellers, business visitors and those transiting through its global hub.
“Dubai’s record international visitation is a testament to global confidence in the destination and the effectiveness of policies aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, as well as the collective strength of partnerships across sectors and communities that defines our city,” said His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), part of DET:
Dubai’s diversified offering continues to resonate with Australians, from world-class attractions and major retail festivals to a fast-evolving culinary scene. The 2025 MICHELIN Guide Dubai featured 119 restaurants across 35 cuisines, including the city’s first three-starred venues, while cultural food tours in Old Dubai were named among Lonely Planet’s top global experiences for 2026.
Hotel performance remained strong, with average occupancy reaching 80.7 per cent across 154,264 rooms in 827 establishments. New openings in 2025 included Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, further bolstering the luxury pipeline popular with the Australian market.
Connectivity also remains a key driver. Dubai International (DXB) retained its title as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for the 11th consecutive year, offering Australians access to the Middle East, Europe and beyond.
With major infrastructure projects under the D33 agenda – including the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport and the Dubai Metro Blue Line – Dubai is positioning itself for continued growth as a critical hub and high-impact destination for Australian travellers in 2026 and beyond.
