Tourism statisticsCountry2026
United Arab Emirates Tourism Statistics: 30.8M Hotel Guests
The United Arab Emirates recorded 30.8 million hotel guests in 2024, the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism reports. AirROI estimates 253,634 Airbnb stays in the United Arab Emirates in the 12 months to October 2026, with Dubai the most booked city. The busiest month was November.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 1,959,132
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 7.7 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- November
- From abroad, among guests who left a review
- 88%
Key facts
United Arab Emirates Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- The UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism puts the United Arab Emirates at 30.8 million hotel guests in 2024.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in the United Arab Emirates at 253,634 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in the United Arab Emirates added up to 1,959,132 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in the United Arab Emirates lasted 7.7 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 23 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks November the busiest Airbnb month in the United Arab Emirates in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by October and January, with April the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the six busiest Airbnb months in the United Arab Emirates ran unbroken from September to February in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in the United Arab Emirates in November were booked furthest ahead, about 33 days, against 14 days for May, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 88% of United Arab Emirates Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 came from abroad, led by the United Kingdom at 14% and the United States at 11%.
By place
- AirROI ranks the United Arab Emirates 9th for Airbnb stays among Asia's 33 countries in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Dubai had the most Airbnb stays of the 6 towns it lists in the United Arab Emirates in the 12 months to October 2026, at 216,489, ahead of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit the United Arab Emirates?
The UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism counted 30.8 million hotel guests in 2024.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30.8 millionHotel guests | Hotel guests across the seven emirates, reported as approximately 30.8 million | 2024 | UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates had 24,682 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 253,634 stays and 1,959,132 nights. A typical stay lasted 7.7 nights and was booked about 23 days ahead, longer than the worldwide stay of 5.2 nights. AirROI's figures cover the 17 towns it tracks in the United Arab Emirates; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 24,682
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 253,634
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 1,959,132
- Typical stay
- 7.7 nights
- Booked ahead
- 23 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in the United Arab Emirates?
On Airbnb, November was the busiest month in the United Arab Emirates in the 12 months to October 2026, then October and January. April was the quietest. The six busiest months run unbroken from September to February.
November ranks first, April last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: November, October, January, December, September, February, August, July, June, May, March, April.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| November | 9.8% | 33 days |
| October | 9.6% | 30 days |
| January | 9.6% | 25 days |
| December | 9.4% | 29 days |
| September | 8.9% | 15 days |
| February | 8.8% | 25 days |
| August | 8.7% | 19 days |
| July | 7.8% | 20 days |
| June | 7.6% | 14 days |
| May | 7.1% | 14 days |
| March | 6.8% | 24 days |
| April | 5.9% | 24 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do United Arab Emirates Airbnb Guests Come From?
Among United Arab Emirates Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 88% came from abroad, led by the United Kingdom at 14% and the United States at 11%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, Dubai was the top origin city at 9.4%, ahead of London at 4.7%. The figures rest on 424,201 reviews, written over many years.
88% from abroad
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From abroad 88%
- From within the United Arab Emirates 12%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in the United Arab Emirates
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah took 96% of Airbnb stays in the United Arab Emirates in the 12 months to October 2026. November is the busiest Airbnb month in 3 of the 6 towns, led by Dubai, and December in 2, led by Abu Dhabi. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from 52% in Ras Al-Khaimah to 89% in Dubai.
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. Lists the 6 of the United Arab Emirates' 17 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in the United Arab Emirates
How many tourists visit the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates had 30.8 million hotel guests in 2024, according to the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism. AirROI estimates 253,634 Airbnb stays in the United Arab Emirates in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.
When is high season in the United Arab Emirates?
The busiest Airbnb month in the United Arab Emirates in the 12 months to October 2026 was November, then October and January. The six busiest months run from September to February.
What is the quietest month in the United Arab Emirates?
April was the quietest Airbnb month in the United Arab Emirates in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and March ranked 11th. Stays in April were booked about 24 days ahead, against 33 days for November.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in the United Arab Emirates?
A typical Airbnb stay in the United Arab Emirates lasted 7.7 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 23 days ahead. That is longer than the worldwide 5.2 nights. By month, stays ran from 6.2 nights in March to 10.2 nights in July.
Where do Airbnb guests in the United Arab Emirates come from?
Of United Arab Emirates Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 88% came from abroad, AirROI estimates. The largest groups were the United Kingdom at 14% and the United States at 11%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was Dubai at 9.4%, ahead of London at 4.7%.
What is the most booked town in the United Arab Emirates on Airbnb?
Dubai was the most booked town in the United Arab Emirates on Airbnb, with an estimated 216,489 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. The UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism counts hotel guests (30.8 million in 2024). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 253,634 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 17 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 424,201 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.