What happened? Dubai has entered the global top 10 for tourist attractiveness in Yanolja Research’s 2026 ranking.
Who is affected? The recognition is relevant to Dubai’s tourism sector, hotels, attractions, restaurants, retailers and businesses serving international visitors.
Why does it matter? The ranking is based on traveller sentiment and online tourism conversations, giving an indication of how visitors perceive Dubai as a destination.
- Location: Dubai, UAE
- Organisation: Yanolja Research
- Status: 2026 global tourism assessment
- Who is affected: Travellers and Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sector
- Business impact: Supports Dubai’s position as a competitive global tourism destination
- What’s next: Continued investment in hotels, attractions, infrastructure and major events
Dubai has been ranked among the world’s top 10 most attractive tourist cities, according to Yanolja Research’s 2026 Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index.
The city ranked 10th globally and first in the Middle East for tourist attractiveness. The assessment analysed 261 cities using traveller conversations and sentiment data across 14 languages, giving a different perspective on Dubai’s tourism appeal beyond visitor numbers alone.
Dubai’s position comes as the emirate continues to attract record numbers of international visitors and expand its hotels, attractions, events and transport infrastructure
Dubai enters the global top 10
Yanolja Research’s 2026 assessment placed Osaka first for tourist attractiveness, followed by Kyoto, New York, Seoul, Paris, London, Rome, Okinawa and Bangkok.
Dubai completed the top 10, ranking ahead of several well-known destinations, including Tokyo, Yokohama and Singapore.
The research also expanded significantly this year. Yanolja Research assessed 261 cities, compared with 191 destinations in its previous evaluation, and published rankings for the top 200 cities.
Purdue University’s CHRIBA Institute and Kyung Hee University’s H&T Analytics Center contributed to the research, while Brandwatch provided global social media data.
Traveller sentiment plays a key role
The ranking looks at more than how often people talk about a destination.
Yanolja Research separates destination awareness from attractiveness. Awareness looks at the volume of online conversations surrounding a city, while attractiveness focuses on positive traveller sentiment.
The two measures are given equal weighting in the wider Yanolja Attractiveness Index.
Researchers examined conversations relating to areas such as urban beauty, natural scenery, culture and history, experiences and hospitality. The analysis also covered 17 tourism-related categories, including food, accommodation, shopping, attractions, nightlife and activities.
That makes Dubai’s 10th-place result particularly relevant because it reflects how travellers describe and respond to their experiences in the city.
Dubai welcomed a record 19.59 million visitors in 2025
The latest ranking comes after another strong year for Dubai tourism.
According to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, the emirate welcomed 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, up from 18.72 million in 2024.
December was particularly significant, with Dubai recording more than 2 million international overnight visitors in a single month for the first time.
Western Europe was Dubai’s biggest regional source market, contributing 4.1 million visitors. The GCC followed with 2.99 million, while South Asia and the CIS and Eastern Europe each contributed 2.89 million visitors.
Dubai’s hotel sector also continued to expand. By the end of 2025, the city had 154,264 hotel rooms across 827 establishments, with average hotel occupancy reaching 80.7 per cent.
New hotels and infrastructure support tourism growth
Dubai’s tourism offering continues to grow alongside visitor demand.
Several major hospitality projects opened during 2025, including Ciel Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai and Cheval Maison Expo City.
The emirate is also investing in infrastructure that is expected to support future tourism and mobility.
Dubai International Airport retained its position as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers in 2025. According to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, DXB handled 70.1 million passengers during the first nine months of the year.
Future infrastructure projects, including the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport and the Dubai Metro Blue Line, are also expected to strengthen connectivity as Dubai continues to grow.
Dubai’s latest ranking matters because it measures something that traditional tourism statistics cannot fully capture: how travellers feel about the destination.
For UAE residents, the recognition highlights the growing range of experiences available across Dubai, from hotels and restaurants to attractions, shopping, entertainment and major events.
For businesses, strong traveller sentiment can support demand across the wider tourism ecosystem. Hotels, restaurants, tour operators, retailers and entertainment venues all benefit when international visitors view the city positively.
The ranking also reinforces Dubai’s position in an increasingly competitive global tourism market. As more destinations compete for international travellers, positive visitor experiences can become just as important as infrastructure and visitor numbers.
FAQs
What is Dubai’s position in the 2026 tourist attractiveness ranking?
Dubai ranked 10th globally for tourist attractiveness in Yanolja Research’s 2026 assessment.
Is Dubai the highest-ranked Middle Eastern city?
Yes. Dubai ranked first in the Middle East in the attractiveness ranking.
How many cities were assessed?
Yanolja Research assessed 261 cities in its 2026 study and published rankings for the top 200.
What was the ranking based on?
The research analysed traveller conversations and sentiment across 14 languages, covering areas including food, accommodation, attractions, shopping, nightlife, culture and hospitality.
How many international visitors did Dubai receive in 2025?
Dubai welcomed 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, according to the Department of Economy and Tourism.
Dubai’s 10th-place global ranking for tourist attractiveness adds to a strong run of tourism records for the emirate. With positive traveller sentiment, rising visitor numbers, expanding hospitality options and continued infrastructure investment, Dubai remains a major competitor among the world’s leading tourism destinations.
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