Abu Dhabi hotels generate Dhs5.4bn in revenue in 2022

Hotel revenues climbed by 23 per cent from the previous year to Dhs5.4bn in 2022, according to a report published by the state news agency, WAM.

Abu Dhabi hotels recorded occupancy rates of 70 per cent during the reference year, a growth of 0.2 per cent compared to 2021.

Key highlights

The average hotel stay for guests was about three nights per guest, and the average revenue per available room was Dhs263, up 19 per cent. UAE nationals accounted for the largest share of the capital’s hotel guests during the past year, with a share of 29 per cent, or the equivalent of 1.182 million guests, WAM reported.

According to stats, Indian nationalities led all other non-Emiratis segments with a share of 12 per cent, or the equivalent of 480,000 visitors, up 31 per cent from the same period in 2021. British, Egyptian, Philippines, and Saudi Arabian nationals followed with a share of 4 per cent each.

Dubai’s hospitality industry

In other news, Dubai’s hotel industry also ended 2022 on a good note, with occupancy rates and revenue per available room (RevPAR) rising for the month of December.

Read: Dubai’s hotel industry ends 2022 on a high note

KPMG’s latest 2022 Dubai Hospitality Report revealed that Dubai registered the highest hotel occupancy rate in 15 years by the end of Expo, with the emirate’s tourism sector contributing $29.4bn to the economy in 2022.

Dubai’s hospitality industry has made a strong post-pandemic rebound, with leisure and business trips, including MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) on an upward growth trajectory in FY22.

The government’s robust Covid-19 response plan and the hospitality industry’s commitment to complying with government health and safety requirements elevated the UAE’s position as one of the safest countries in the world, with 90 per cent of surveyed respondents expressing confidence in the implementation of sensitisation policies across hotels in Dubai.

This enhanced guest sentiment is reflected in hotel occupancies, with 92 per cent of consumers keen to stay in a hotel in Dubai in 2022, representing a 37  per cent increase from the previous year’s results.

Sidharth Mehta, partner and Head of Real Estate, KPMG Lower Gulf, said: “Dubai’s hospitality industry has witnessed remarkable growth in 2022 – driven by the government’s forward-thinking vision to address the needs of all hospitality stakeholders.

“Furthermore, the UAE is investing around $32bn to acquire 48,000 more hotel rooms to bring it to a total of 200,000. These developments place the UAE in an enviable position to navigate travel and hospitality demands in 2023, equally driving economic growth by creating employment opportunities.”