According to Saud Hareb Al Mheiri, assistant manager of DET, the city welcomed 620,000 overnight visitors from China in 2023. In the first four months of 2024, almost 290,000 overnight visitors arrived, a 101 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, China was Dubai's fifth-largest tourist source market. After China reopened its borders, Dubai continued to implement a visa-free policy and other convenient measures to attract more Chinese tourists.
With direct flights now available from 14 Chinese cities and widespread acceptance of Alipay and WeChat in Dubai, the city is well-prepared to accommodate Chinese visitors seamlessly.
