business-data | Edakulathur Michael Johnson

(c) please visit www.shuaacapital.com Economic Bulletin as at 4/18/2006

Dubai hotels generated a revenue base of AED 7.9 bn in 2005, versus AED 5.5 bn the previous year, according to the latest statistics compiled by Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). Dubai hosted more than six million hotel and hotel apartment guests, for the first time in its history, according to DTCM. Europe as a region accounted for 1,940,255 guests, with the British being the major nationality to be found staying at Dubai hotels last year. Saudis accounted for more than 10% of tourists. As many as 647,984 Saudi guests stayed at Dubai hotels last year, 33% higher than in 2004. Among other major nationalities, 67% more Americans visited Dubai last year, 47% more Chinese and 31% more Qataris stayed in Dubai hotels. Another interesting aspect that the DTCM study revealed was that many UAE nationals still figure in the Dubai hotels guest list as they did in 2004. While 327,035 UAE nationals accounted for the total number of Dubai guests in 2004, the number last year was a marginal high, at 327,131 guests.