Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments was 10.20 million guests in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
10.20 million guests
Change on year
up 16.4%
World rank
27th
of 96 countries
All-time high
10.20 million guests
in 2021
All-time low
3.34 million guests
in 2014
Years of data
8
2014–2021

Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in United Arab Emirates, 2014–2021

4.0M6.0M8.0M10.0M2014201720212014: 3.3M guests2015: 6.6M guests2016: 7.2M guests2017: 5.5M guests2018: 7.9M guests2019: 8.5M guests2020: 8.8M guests2021: 10.2M guests

Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in guests.

Analysis

The most recent figure for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in United Arab Emirates is 10.20 million guests, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

That represents a change of up 16.4% on the previous year and up 205.6% over ten years.

United Arab Emirates ranks 27th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in United Arab Emirates, year by year

Annual values for Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in United Arab Emirates, 2014 to 2021.
Year guests Change
2014 3.34 million guests
2015 6.57 million guests +97.0%
2016 7.16 million guests +8.9%
2017 5.47 million guests -23.6%
2018 7.88 million guests +44.2%
2019 8.45 million guests +7.2%
2020 8.76 million guests +3.6%
2021 10.20 million guests +16.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 6.48 million guests 3.34 million guests 8.45 million guests 6
2020s 9.48 million guests 8.76 million guests 10.20 million guests 2

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

  1. 24 Norway 11.41 million guests compare
  2. 25 Austria 11.25 million guests compare
  3. 26 Switzerland 10.94 million guests compare
  4. 28 Portugal 9.60 million guests compare
  5. 29 Czechia 9.29 million guests compare
  6. 30 Israel 8.45 million guests compare

See the full ranking of 96 places →

More reference data data for United Arab Emirates

All data for United Arab Emirates →

Frequently asked questions

What is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in United Arab Emirates?
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in United Arab Emirates was 10.20 million guests in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The highest recorded value was 10.20 million guests in 2021.
What is the lowest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The lowest recorded value was 3.34 million guests in 2014.
How does United Arab Emirates rank for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments?
United Arab Emirates ranks 27th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
Is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
Over the last ten years it is up 205.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in United Arab Emirates. Statizoid, drawing on UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/domestic-guests-in-tourism-accommodation-hotels-and-similar-establishments-vs-foreign/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments
Unit
guests
Source
UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
96 places, 1,992 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

Number of domestic visitors who check in to hotels and similar accommodation establishments within their own country.