Dubai experiences growth despite the global downturn

Despite the economic climate, global visitors to Dubai reached an all-time high of 6,996,449 in 2008, and even though the pace of growth has slowed by the downturn, this increase reaffirms Dubai's position as one of the world's most popular destinations.

Having developed a highly desirable and increasingly diversified premium tourism product, Dubai continues to meet the needs of an ever expanding audience. With so much to offer both leisure and business visitors, from groundbreaking attractions to world-class hospitality it is little wonder that Dubai is experiencing such significant growth.

And, this increase in visitor figures has led to an impressive 15 per cent increase in hotel revenues for the year 2008 to £2.5 billion.

One of the major contributors to Dubai's growth in 2008 is the range of exciting new hotel developments which continue to fuel increased visitor demand. Dubai continues to feature an impressive portfolio of increasingly diversified hotels, with last year seeing a 16 per cent increase in the number of hotel rooms and hotel apartments to 49,598.

Last year Atlantis The Palm opened its doors boasting a 50-acre water park plus fine dining restaurants from Nobu and Locatelli. And, the 63-storey The Address Downtown Burj Dubai hotel opened providing the ultimate 5-star experience with unique views of the world's tallest tower, Burj Dubai.

Other recent key hotel openings include Per Aquum's Desert Palm hotel - a beautiful boutique retreat located in Dubai's desert with a world class spa. Also, the emirate expanded its portfolio of affordable luxury hotels to include a Premier Inn, and three Holiday Inn Express hotels as well as two Ibis hotels with a further two Ibis hotels due to open in 2009.

2009 has got off to a very positive start too. In January 2009 Dubai witnessed a year-on-year growth of six per cent in passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport (following a nine per cent growth for the whole of 2008, a year where total passenger numbers reached 37.44 million).

Passenger traffic at the Middle East's busiest hub reached 3.3 million in January 2009 this year compared to 3.1 in the same period of 2008. And according to Airports Council International's (ACI) figures, Dubai International Airport was the only airport among the top ten airports worldwide to register growth.

during the last quarter of 2008. That the airport continues to register significant growth is a positive indicator for the travel industry worldwide.

Ian Scott, director UK and Ireland of Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing, comments on the emirate's outlook for 2009:

"Dubai continues to attract visitors from around the world, with 2008 seeing an all-time high of almost seven million people visiting the emirate. Dubai continues to develop an impressive portfolio of pioneering and exciting new developments. Our world-class hospitality and exceptional standards have fulled this increasing number of visitors who continue to seek out the best holiday experience. We of course recognize the challenges of the months ahead but our outlook for 2009 remains strong, with a range of new projects in the pipeline that will continue to inspire visitors from around the world."