Dubai welcomed more than 17 million international visitors in 2023. HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that this represented growth of 19.4 percent on the previous year for Dubai visitor numbers. The previous record was 16.73 million visitors registered in 2019. In 2023, hotel occupancy rates in Dubai hit 77.4 percent. It’s not so surprising that Dubai’s popularity is growing, after all it was named one of the safest cities for expats to live in 2023. And early this year, it’s already been named the best of the best in Tripadvisor’s annual travellers’ choice awards. In 2023, Dubai welcomed a record-breaking 17 million international visitors. This remarkable growth of 19.4% firmly established Dubai as a leading destination. The city is at the forefront of the global tourism sector, with one of the world’s highest hotel occupancy rates.

The new record lines up nicely with Dubai’s Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position Dubai as one of the top three cities worldwide for business and tourism.

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From watching shows at Dubai Opera to mall trawling and a range of dining out options, there’s a lot to do in the city. Keep up with the latest weekly happenings by checking out our list of things to do.

Have someone visiting? Here are 5 really cool things they’ll probably want to check out:

Burj Khalifa

(Credit: CanvaPro) Head up the tallest building in the world to see panoramic views of the city from the observation deck on floor 124 and 125. Stop at At.mosphere, on floor 122, for a snack or meal. Or just take pictures of the steel giant from Downtown Dubai.

Dubai Mall

(Credit: CanvaPro) Spanning over 96,000 square feet, Dubai Mall is the world’s largest shopping mall and has stores from all over the globe. It’s a mall lover’s dream.

Concerts and festivals

Kevin Hart (Image: Supplied) While 2023 had a roster of international acts performing in the city, this year isn’t looking too shabby either. Check out our list of shows, gigs and comedy acts that are coming to town this year.

Award-winning restaurants

Dubai has a fine curation of restaurants that suit any budget, but we suggest heading to one of the award-winning eateries for a truly special treat.

Adventure sports

Sun, sand, and plenty of water sports and outdoor adventures await visitors to the city. Why not give paragliding, skydiving, or ziplining a try?

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