Dubai’s hotel sector is bracing for one of its busiest stretches of the year. Operators across the city report improving booking trends from key international markets, particularly the UK, Russia and the CIS region, with demand expected to build from August and reach its peak during the festive season and New Year period.
Hoteliers Say the Rebound Is Already Visible
Khalid Saeed, General Manager at Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection, said the hotel is anticipating a strong Q4 in both demand and occupancy, with a rapid rebound already visible from the UK, Russian and CIS markets. He noted that since travel restrictions began easing, the hotel has seen a significant spike in bookings.
• Room renovations and public space upgrades completed during the quieter summer months • Service teams strengthened ahead of peak festive-season demand • Occupancy expected to approach 2025 levels by Q4
Haytham Omar, Managing Director of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, described Q4 as set to be another strong season, driven by Dubai’s events calendar, robust business activity and sustained leisure demand from both residents and international visitors. Stefan Schmid, Complex General Manager at Al Jaddaf Rotana Complex, said his properties have bolstered staff training and completed preventative maintenance ahead of what he expects to be a meaningful, if not yet pre-crisis-level, recovery.
The Numbers Behind the Confidence
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| International visitors, 2025 | 19.59 million, a third consecutive record year |
| DXB passengers, 2025 | 95.2 million, a record |
| Government support package | Dh1 billion incentive package, deferred sales fees for 3 months |
| Resident nationalities | Nearly 200, supporting domestic tourism base |
Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, told Gulf News that Dubai’s appeal is built on operational reality rather than perception, pointing to the city’s track record for safety, stability and consistent connectivity. Kazim also pointed to a Dh1 billion economic incentive package that allowed hotels to defer 100 percent of sales fees on rooms and food and beverage for three months, along with Tourism Dirham relief, as key support for the sector’s recovery.
Why This Matters for UAE Business Readers
A strong Q4 recovery in outbound-heavy markets like the UK and Russia has knock-on effects well beyond hospitality, touching retail, aviation capacity, events and the wider services economy that depends on visitor spending. The pattern also builds on Dubai’s record 2025 tourism year, detailed further in Gulf News’ report on
Dubai tourism is hitting a record 19.59 million international visitors in 2025. For UAE-based businesses planning Q4 staffing, inventory or marketing spend, the message from hoteliers is consistent: expect demand to build steadily from August, with the sharpest ramp-up around the festive season.
Travellers and travel planners weighing the cost side of a UAE trip this season may also find it useful to review Dubai Startups Daily’s guide on
why a Dh3,000 UAE holiday often turns into an Dh8,000 bill, which breaks down where hidden travel costs typically creep in.
