Dubai has been placed among the top 5 tourist cities, a shift that mirrors stronger visitor flows and growing international recognition in 2025. The Global Power City Index 2025/2026 and official tourism figures together underline why the emirate’s profile is rising on the world stage.
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Dubai top 5 tourist cities: Global Power City Index 2025/2026 recognition
The Global Power City Index — compiled by the Mori Memorial Foundation — measures how well cities attract people, capital and ideas. Dubai’s climb in the latest edition reflects gains across accessibility, cultural offerings and commercial appeal. That mix of factors, rather than any single statistic, nudged the emirate into the top five. The local outlets noted the shift soon after the index was published.
Visitor performance and sector indicators in 2025
Official tallies show sustained momentum through 2025. The Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism reported that Dubai welcomed roughly 9.88 million international visitors in the first half of 2025. Hotel occupancy and average daily rates moved up in H1, helping tourism revenues recover and giving operators reason to be cautiously optimistic. These mid-year numbers build on a high base from 2024, when arrivals were strong across leisure and MICE segments.
Strategic momentum under the D33 Economic Agenda
The D33 Economic Agenda sits at the centre of Dubai’s push to broaden its economic base. The plan emphasises tourism, connectivity and events as pillars—measures designed to double parts of the economy by 2033. Investors and planners see this as a steadying hand: targeted incentives and new event pipelines have already begun shifting investor conversations toward hotels and large-scale hospitality projects. For anyone who follows Dubai’s planning papers, the D33 ambitions feel both pragmatic and bold.
Global reputation and awards strengthen visitor magnetism
Travel awards and user-driven rankings keep feeding the publicity cycle. Platforms such as Tripadvisor continue to place Dubai high in lists for city experiences, dining and trending destinations. Positive traveller reviews, when they stack up across months, help a destination stay on shortlists and in recommendation feeds — and that, in turn, draws more first-time visitors and repeat guests.
Infrastructure and connectivity supporting higher arrivals
Air links remain a practical advantage. Dubai’s airport network and route additions have expanded seat capacity, making it easier for tourists and business travellers to reach the emirate. International reporting on airport throughput has highlighted the scale of passenger traffic that keeps Dubai well served from Europe, Asia and beyond. Reuters has covered these trends, noting how capacity increases underpin the tourism rebound.
Industry outlook and investor interest
Stronger rankings and visible visitor growth are renewing investor interest in hospitality, retail and events. Developers point to a healthy pipeline of hotel projects and upgrades. Analysts say that while global headwinds remain, Dubai’s mix of events, festivals and luxury products is a magnet for capital and bookings — a dynamic that could sustain its top-five position into 2026 and beyond.
