Dubai’s hotel sector will likely add another 14,845 rooms in 2023, and will be instantly welcomed by the sustained high visitor demand the city has been recording. Even the upcoming summer months is unlikely to see a significant drop, based on booking enquiries, industry sources say.

The additional rooms will merge into the 148,450 hotel rooms that Dubai already hosts. Atlantis The Royal and the newly refurbished Bab Al Shams Desert Resort are among the hotels that have already had a significant impact this year.

The Arabian Travel Market early May will bring trends in the UAE and Gulf’s hospitality sector into greater focus, with multiple projects getting off the ground.

“The mega projects in Saudi Arabia is putting a spotlight on the Middle East as an attractive region for travel and investment,” said Chris Hartley, CEO of Global Hotel Alliance, a network of hospitality brands that has a sizeable presence in the UAE. “Saudi Arabia also announced its latest airline Riyadh Air, creating another hub for travel in the region.

“Dubai may not be the central focus at the moment, but it will be back in the forefront with new attractions opening. Infrastructure projects are also being developed to support tourism growth.

“The region is taking positive steps to address infrastructure issues and make it easier for people and companies to work and set up in the area.”

Based on projections, Dubai is expected to provide 76 per cent of the 48,000 new rooms that should be ready for guests to the UAE by 2030. There is also lots happening in Ras Al Khaimah.

“The Wynn project in Ras Al Khaimah is garnering much attention,” said Hartley. “Then you have the large openings such as the Hilton and Marriott properties. One of our own projects, located on the West Palm Crescent, is an example of these sizeable developments.”