Dubai’s Summer 2025 Set to Break Records with New Retail Events and 7.15M Visitors
Dubai is transforming summer 2025 into a blockbuster season with record visitors, new mega-events, and unbeatable retail deals.
During the Dubai Stakeholders City Briefing, Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), declared that “summer is different this year.” His team is scaling up venues, launching new experiences, and aiming to make Dubai a 365-day holiday destination.
The city’s events calendar is structured into three game-changing summer phases:
1. Offers Galore
Residents and tourists can expect thousands of irresistible deals. “We have over 153,000 rooms to fill this summer,” said Al Khaja, noting hotel and retail partners are stepping up with deep discounts.
2. The Great Summer Sale
A brand-new event for 2025. “This is happening for the first time,” Al Khaja revealed. Dubai’s retail satisfaction scores are already the highest globally, and this sale is expected to push them even higher.
3. Back-to-School Season
From innovation in school supplies to family-focused deals, Dubai is positioning itself as a leader in education-season shopping. “It’s very important for our kids, families, and visiting shoppers,” Al Khaja emphasized.
Beyond shopping, Dubai will host signature events like the Dubai Comedy Festival, which now features performances in seven languages. This makes it one of the most inclusive comedy events in the world.
Business events are growing too. Al Khaja revealed that Dubai submitted 295 international event bids in just five months and has already won 178 of them.
Coming soon: the city-wide Dubai 30×30 fitness initiative, expanded with yoga sessions and new wellness experiences. “We continue to deliver sustainable, accessible, and great events,” said Al Khaja.
Meanwhile, Dubai’s tourism sector is smashing records. 7.15 million international visitors arrived in the first four months of 2025. This marks a 7% increase over last year, according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said Dubai surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and again in 2024.
The hospitality sector also soared. Dubai recorded 43.03 million occupied room nights in 2024, up from 41.7 million in 2023, with average occupancy hitting 78.2%. Projections for 2025 point toward 80%.
Top-performing areas included Dubai Marina (86%), Palm Jumeirah, and Oud Metha (85%), all showing strong forward bookings, according to Gulf News.
Kazim noted, “We’re closely monitoring global trends to exceed traveller expectations.” He also urged stakeholders to prepare for the Al Maktoum International Airport, which is expected to open for passengers in phases starting in 2032.
Dubai’s message is clear: Summer is no longer off-season. It is prime time.
