Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Many entertainment and tourism destinations and hotel establishments in Dubai launched promotional campaigns targeting family tourism from different countries of the world, during the summer period of 2023, which is to provide discounts or offers for children, by providing free services for children, whether for accommodation or entry to entertainment destinations.

The Department of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with strategic partners in the private sector, provides offers from hotels and resorts, including early booking at the best prices, and free offers for children, which makes Dubai an ideal family destination.

It is also possible to explore tourist destinations in the city and visit restaurants. Free offers include dozens of hotels and entertainment destinations across the city, for reservations during the summer period until August 31, according to specific terms and conditions for each destination.

These campaigns contribute to enhancing the demand for family tourism to Dubai from many international markets, and would raise hotel occupancy.

Destinations and hotels

Dubai Parks and Resorts revealed the launch of the summer season, announcing that children will enter it for free, starting from the first of next June.

As children will be able to enjoy the summer atmosphere by trying games for free in each of the “Motiongate Dubai”, “Legoland Dubai Theme Park” and “Legoland Water Park”.

Lapita Hotel in Dubai Parks and Resorts provides free accommodation for a child for every adult; Dubai Parks and Resorts will provide its guests, adults and children, with many offers and surprises to enjoy this summer.

The nine “Rove” hotels offer offers of free accommodation and dining for children, according to the conditions.

Madame Tussauds Dubai offered free entry this summer to children under 13 years old, accompanied by an adult who pays the entrance ticket.

The "Aya" entertainment destination allows a child under the age of 12 to enter for free, accompanied by every visitor who pays the ticket price.

Reservations can be made at the Atlantis, The Palm Resort, and children (under 14 years old) can be taken for free. Reservations must be made between Feb.9 and August 31, 2023.

Momentum continues

Dubai received about 1.02 million tourists from Western Europe during the first quarter, while the data of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai indicated that the city's hotels hosted about 747 thousand tourists from South Asia, and 700 thousand Gulf tourists, and the same number from Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe.

India topped the list of markets exporting visitors to Dubai in the first quarter, with about 612,000 tourists, a growth of 63%. Russia came second, with 358,000 tourists, with a growth of 89%. Then the United Kingdom, with 299,000 tourists, an increase of 9% compared to the first quarter of 2022, then Saudi Arabia, with 289.

One thousand tourists, down 9%, and the Sultanate of Oman, with 278 thousand tourists, down 40%. Germany came in sixth place with 213,000 tourists, a growth of 65%, then the United States, with 198,000 tourists, a growth of 43%, then Israel, with 125,000 tourists, a growth of 123%, and Iran came in ninth with 111,000 tourists, a growth of 11%, then France with 103,000 tourist, but down 27%.

Pre-pandemic levels

The number of visitors to Dubai from 11 countries in the first quarter of 2023 exceeded the levels of the first quarter of 2019 (pre-pandemic levels), which are Russia 53%, Kazakhstan 107%, India 8%, Australia 2%, Iran 18%, Oman 6%, Iraq 25%, Egypt 4%, and Germany. 4%, Canada 28% and the United States 7%. Dubai received 4.67 million international tourists during the first quarter of 2023, compared to 3.97 million international tourists during the same period in 2022, an increase of 17% year-on-year, among the city's best quarterly performance since the pandemic.”