Dubai ranks 12th in world’s Top 100 City Destinations for 2025
Middle East cities strengthen their global standing through rising visitor demand
DUBAI – Dubai has secured 12th place in Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025, reinforcing its position as the Middle East’s leading tourism hub.
The report shows Dubai’s continued strength in visitor arrivals, major international events and rising occupancy levels across its expanding affordable luxury hotel segment. It also reflects the emirate’s ability to attract travellers from core markets including India, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Paris retained its number one ranking for the fifth consecutive year, supported by more than 18 million international visitors in 2025. Madrid, Tokyo, Rome and Milan followed in the top five, driven by solid tourism infrastructure, cultural depth and sustainability-led strategies.
Regional strength
Eight cities across five Middle Eastern and African countries featured in the global list, underscoring the region’s growing influence in global tourism. Dubai remained the highest-ranked city in the region, outpacing other destinations in visitor numbers and international appeal.
Abu Dhabi and Doha also advanced their positions through tourism investments, expanded airline networks and large-scale infrastructure development. The forthcoming unified GCC tourist visa is expected to further strengthen regional connectivity, supporting seamless cross-border travel and enhancing the wider Gulf’s tourism competitiveness.
Global arrivals
International travel continued its upward trajectory in 2025, with Asia Pacific recording the strongest rise in arrivals at 10 per cent. The Middle East and Africa followed at 7 percent, reflecting increased air capacity, major events and visa policy reforms.
Bangkok topped the list of global arrivals with 30.3 million visitors, followed by Hong Kong, London and Macau. Euromonitor reported that international arrivals across the top 100 cities increased 8 per cent to 702 million, demonstrating the resilience of global tourism despite inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
Innovation trends
Cities worldwide are accelerating investment in sustainability and smart tourism. Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia and Seville continued to lead Europe in eco-friendly initiatives, alongside Nordic frontrunners Helsinki and Oslo. Artificial intelligence is also reshaping visitor experiences, with applications ranging from New York’s smart city systems to Bangkok’s digital arrival cards and Abu Dhabi’s AI-powered public services.
Euromonitor’s global head of loyalty, Nadejda Popova, said the 2025 index reflects a pivotal moment for cities embracing innovation, sustainability and personalised experiences to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving tourism landscape.