Abu Dhabi, Dubai welcome more tourists in 8 months

Abu Dhabi - Average daily room prices in hotels down due to offers and discounts offered

The combined number of tourists who visited Abu Dhabi and Dubai increased by 1.6 per cent during the first eight months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, which confirms the capacity of the UAE's tourism sector to attract international visitors.
In light of the sustainability of the country's tourism sector, room occupancy and general occupancy rates increased by 4.2 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively, from January to August 2018, compared to the same period in 2017, according to statistics from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism.
Due to the offers and discounts offered by hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, their average daily room prices decreased by 5.3 per cent and 5.5 per cent, respectively, during the period.
Statistics on international visitors showed an increase in the number of tourists coming from Russia by 64.8 per cent, which was supported by the loosening of entry visa requirements, despite a plunge in the value of the Russian currency against the dirham.
The number of tourists from China and Germany increased by 11.6 per cent and 14.7 per cent, respectively, in line with a surge in the value of their currencies compared to the dirham. The number of tourists from India increased by 2.3 per cent, after a slight surge in the dirham against the rupee, while the number of tourists from the United Kingdom and Egypt decreased despite an increase in the value of their currencies as compared to the dirham.
The number of tourists from Pakistan and the Philippines decreased, which could be due to the increased value of the dirham compared to their currencies. Statistics from Dubai highlighted an increase in the number of foreign tourists by 6.7 per cent from January to August 2018 compared to December 2017.
Total hotel occupancy nights and length of stay of hotel establishments in Dubai increased by 7.3 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively.
The number of international visitors visiting Abu Dhabi increased during the first eight months of the year by 6.7 per cent compared to December 2017.
Along with Dubai, total hotel occupancy nights and length of stay of hotel establishments in Abu Dhabi increased by 6.7 per cent and one per cent, respectively.
Regarding the countries that provide the highest number of incoming tourism to Dubai, official figures highlight an increase in the number of tourists coming from Russia by 64.4 per cent since the start of the current year, followed by Germany with 14.6 per cent and China with 10.7 per cent.
Tourists coming to Dubai from GCC countries represent 29 per cent of the total; those from the Middle East represent 19 per cent and 10 per cent for North Africa while tourists from Western Europe and North America represent 21 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. Tourists from South Asia account for 11 per cent.
In Abu Dhabi, most leading countries that provide tourists recorded an increase in numbers except the Philippines, which recorded a slight decrease, probably due to the fall of its currency against the dirham.