Dubai hospitality marches ahead

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

Dubai’s hospitality sector is all set to grow further this year with an increased average daily rate and revenue per available room despite the low occupancy rate and increased supply compared to the pre-pandemic era.

The hotels across the emirate are expected to hit 80 per cent occupancy rate this year with a steady increase in the average daily rate and revenue per available room as tourism is back on track, according to the Zoom Property Insights.

The Insights data indicates that international visitors to Dubai are expected to exceed the pre-pandemic period in 2023 which will benefit the hospitality industry. The emirate achieved 73 per cent hotel occupancy after welcoming 14.36 million international visitors last year, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism data disclosed.

Ata Shobeiry, CEO of Zoom Property, believes that the hospitality sector will continue its upward trajectory this year after a strong performance in 2022.

He said: “While the occupancy level was 2 per cent below 2019, pre-pandemic era, the high ADR and RevPAR demonstrate a strong position of the sector. ADR showed a growth of nearly 34 per cent, while RevPAR also made a jump of a little over 31 per cent. I believe 2023 will follow suit and record even high figures as Dubai continues to attract tourists from across the globe.”

Data obtained from STR shows that December 2022 saw 76.6 per cent occupancy with Dhs 892.84 as the average daily rate and AED 684.03 as revenue per available room.

A further breakdown shows that the Dubai hospitality sector produced the best figures on New Year’s Eve as the occupancy reached 91 per cent, while ADR and RevPAR amounted to Dhs 1,765.51 and Dhs 1,606.74, respectively.

According to the Zoom Property Insights, the UAE hospitality sector will see 48,000 new rooms by 2030, aiming for an expansion of 25 per cent, to cater to the growing number of tourists.

The Zoom Property Insights further revealed that Dubai, being a prominent destination, will receive the maximum share (76 per cent) out of this inventory. The noteworthy point here is that Dubai already has a higher portfolio when it comes to the number of rooms as compared to other advanced metropolises, such as London and New York.

“The strategic location of the emirate, presence of globally-renowned corporate organisations, and world-class attractions are some of the major factors that are contributing to the growth of the hospitality sector. With more international operators venturing into the market, it’s set to witness more growth in the time to come”, Shobeiry concluded.

Zoom Property is an emerging property portal in the UAE with a primary focus on Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah markets. The portal also features international properties in KSA, the UK and other regions on the platform to facilitate buyers and renters. It is also popular among developers, real estate brokerages and property sellers.