UAE: Dubai

By some measures the tourism and hospitality sector in Dubai is already in a league of its own internationally. In terms of overnight visitor arrivals’ spend per resident, for example, Dubai stands head and shoulders above every other major destination city in the world. In its relatively short history, Dubai’s hospitality sector has learned how to constantly reinvent...

With tourist numbers growing year-on-year and the prospect of a huge event just five years away, optimism is prevalent in Dubai’s hospitality sector. At the same time, as new hotels, apartments and holiday villas are built, there are fears in some quarters that the emirate may create a glut in supply.

While the regulation of tourism at the local level rests with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Management (DTCM), new federal regulations from the UAE’s Department of Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Affairs in August 2014, could have an impact on visitor numbers to Dubai.

The automotive sector in Dubai has seen some spectacular growth in recent times, with a recent and widespread economic recovery and the new mood of consumer optimism driving domestic demand.

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) subsector has come in for special focus in recent times, with Dubai seeking to reduce its bills for imported food and beverages (F&B), while also growing its own business and employment opportunities – and by doing so, also tackling growing concerns about food security.