Hotels expect demand to pick up from August, driven by events and increased travel from the UK and CIS markets.
Dubai’s hotels are gearing up for a robust fourth quarter, with demand expected to rise from August and accelerate into the festive season, driven by the return of international visitors, a packed events calendar, and government initiatives supporting the hospitality sector.
Hotel operators report improving booking trends across key markets, with travel demand from the UK, Russia and CIS regions recovering after the easing of restrictions. The fourth quarter is also expected to see a boost from stronger leisure travel, corporate activity, domestic tourism, and Dubai’s busy calendar of events, retail campaigns and entertainment offerings.
Khalid Saeed, General Manager of Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection, said the property is expecting a strong fourth quarter, with both demand and occupancy levels set to improve.
“We anticipate Q4 to be a robust period for demand and occupancy. Booking trends across our key source markets are showing positive momentum as international travel continues to recover. In particular, we expect a strong rebound from the UK market, along with renewed growth from Russia and the CIS regions.”
Following the announcement of eased travel restrictions, we have seen a significant increase in bookings, reinforcing our confidence that demand will continue to strengthen throughout Q4,” said Khalid Saeed, General Manager at Al Habtoor Grand Resort.
Dubai hotels brace for Q4 surge as UK and Russia bookings rebound
Hotels across Dubai are using the quieter summer months to prepare for the upcoming peak travel season, focusing on room upgrades, service enhancements and improvements to public areas. Al Habtoor Grand Resort has completed a series of refurbishments, including new carpets in guest rooms, refreshed interiors and upgrades to shared spaces.
Saeed said the hotel expects business activity to gain momentum from August, with fourth-quarter performance forecast to return to 2025 levels in terms of occupancy and overall operations.
Events and connectivity drive demand
Dubai’s tourism sector is heading into the high season with support from a strong events calendar, expanding airline connectivity and continued destination marketing efforts across international markets. These factors are expected to contribute to stronger visitor demand and sustained hospitality growth during the final quarter of the year.
In an earlier exclusive interview with Gulf News, Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said Dubai’s global appeal was rooted in “operational reality, not perception.”
“The city continues to be safe, stable and open, with its tourism infrastructure, public services and connectivity operating effectively and meeting the expectations of both residents and visitors,” Kazim said.
Dubai recorded 19.59 million international visitors in 2025, achieving a third consecutive year of record tourism growth, while Dubai International Airport welcomed a record 95.2 million passengers.
Hotel operators say these fundamentals are helping Dubai sustain its tourism momentum and maintain strong demand heading into the second half of 2026.
“Q4 is expected to be another strong season, supported by Dubai’s world-class events calendar, solid business activity and continued demand from both domestic and international leisure travellers,” said Haytham Omar, Managing Director of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk.
He added that the UAE’s ongoing investment in tourism and infrastructure continues to strengthen Dubai’s global appeal. “We look forward to welcoming guests to experience Dubai at its best, where exceptional hospitality, culture and innovation come together to create memorable stays.”
Festive season expected to drive peak demand
Hotels expect the busiest period to come during the festive season and New Year celebrations, when demand typically rises across Dubai’s beach resorts, city hotels and family-focused properties, resulting in higher occupancy, stronger room rates and longer guest stays.
Stefan Schmid, Complex General Manager of Al Jaddaf Rotana Complex, said the sector is expecting a significant recovery in Q4.
“We anticipate a strong rebound in Q4. While demand has not yet fully returned to pre-crisis levels, improving travel sentiment and support from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism give us confidence in a meaningful recovery,” Schmid said.
He added that the hotel group has strengthened its teams, invested in employee training and carried out preventive maintenance to maintain service standards. Dubai’s focus on events, connectivity and relief measures has also helped businesses manage costs and safeguard employment, he said.
“The festive season and New Year period are expected to be the busiest times of the year. Our focus remains on delivering consistent value and memorable experiences across all three of our properties, as Dubai continues to warmly welcome visitors from around the world,” said Stefan Schmid, Complex General Manager at Al Jaddaf Rotana Complex.
Support measures help strengthen recovery
The hospitality sector’s recovery has also been supported by earlier initiatives introduced to ease liquidity pressures and reduce operating costs for businesses.
Issam Kazim said a Dh1 billion economic incentive package enabled hotels to defer 100% of sales fees on rooms, food and beverage operations, and the Tourism Dirham for a three-month period.
Khalid Saeed added that government incentives and ongoing support from Dubai Economy and Tourism have helped hotels strengthen their international presence, stimulate demand and accelerate the sector’s recovery.
Hotels target returning tourists and domestic demand
Dubai’s hotel operators are also looking beyond international arrivals, with domestic tourism, staycations and regional travel expected to play an important role in sustaining demand alongside long-haul markets.
Kazim highlighted that Dubai’s diverse resident population of nearly 200 nationalities provides a strong foundation for domestic tourism, with residents continuing to explore and engage with the city’s attractions, experiences and hospitality offerings.
Saeed said Dubai continues to stand out as “one of the world’s safest, most welcoming and most exciting destinations,” offering visitors “exceptional hospitality, diverse experiences and unforgettable memories.”
The fourth quarter is expected to serve as a key indicator of the pace of international travel recovery and the extent to which festive demand can drive occupancy levels across the city. Industry executives say booking trends have strengthened, preparations are well underway, and Dubai’s tourism sector is positioned for a stronger finish to the year.
