Dubai’s ranking as the No.1 global destination in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2022 has given the city a milestone moment in the new year.

The ranking will also bolster its drive to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the Emirate the most visited destination and the best city to live and work in.

Dubai was voted #1 on the global list of Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for Best Global Destination, the world’s #1 destination for city lovers and #4 destination for ‘Food Lovers’.

Winning the three accolades is a significant achievement for Dubai as the awards were determined by the quality and quantity of independent destination reviews and ratings from travellers across accommodation, restaurants and activities over 12 months from November 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021.

Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) said: “Inspired by the visionary leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the city adopted a multi-pronged strategy to deal with the pandemic including a series of initiatives that further enhanced our global competitiveness and attractiveness as a multi-faceted destination. It is truly a proud moment for Dubai to be endorsed as the top global destination, reaffirming the decisive yet prudent measures taken by Dubai to safely navigate and accelerate out of this unprecedented global challenge.”

Almarri added that the achievement is a testament to the “dynamism, resilience and accessibility” of Dubai and its consistence in delivering the highest standards of service to all visitors.

“It also points to the growing collaboration between the Department of Economy and Tourism and its stakeholders and partners, both domestic and international, to position Dubai as a global hub for business and leisure, as well as building on its credentials as an international events destination with the success of Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations,” he said.

As one of the first destinations in the world to close, then open and remain open, Dubai’s effective management of the pandemic and early initiative to lead the global tourism recovery restored travel confidence and positioned the city as one of the safest destinations.

The constant dialogue and cooperation between DET and stakeholders ensured that the ecosystem was aligned in collectively promoting Dubai as a must-visit destination, highlighting the diverse destination proposition and reinforcing the message that that the city is open and safe for domestic and global travellers.

Dubai also launched initiatives to ease barriers to entry for business and leisure travellers, as well as long-term residency initiatives that offer pathways for deeper engagement and longevity with Dubai.

These include the new visas and programmes such as golden visa targeting investors, entrepreneurs and specialised talents, the five-year multi-entry visa for employees of multinational companies, and the Virtual Working and Retire in Dubai programmes.

Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “Dubai’s ability to evolve and adapt, and focus on a diversified approach to international markets have been critical in ensuring that the city continues to retain its position as the leading business and leisure destination and global liveability hub as envisioned by our visionary leadership.”

Tourism growth in Dubai is gathering pace supported by a robust domestic market and growing confidence within the industry and among travellers, especially with the rollout of vaccinations and booster programmes around the world.

According to the latest data published by DET, Dubai welcomed over six million international visitors between January and November 2021, which surpasses the 5.5 million tourists who visited Dubai for the entire 2020.

During this 11-month period, 743 hotel establishments with over 136,000 rooms also opened their doors to guests, delivering strong occupancy levels of over 60 per cent, which is among the highest occupancy rates internationally.

Expo 2020 Dubai has also made a major contribution towards creating awareness of Dubai and drawing more visitors to the city. Since opening on October 1, 2020, Expo 2020 has attracted over 10 million visits by residents and global travellers.

Source: Khaleej Times

Emirate ranks above global cities like London, Rome and Paris to clinch the top spot.

Dubai has been declared as the world’s most popular destination for 2022. This came as Tripadvisor released its Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2022: The Best of the Best Destinations.

The Emirate has been ranked ahead of global cities like London, Rome and Paris to clinch the top spot.

The awards honour travellers’ favourite destinations, hotels, restaurants, things to do, and beyond, based on the reviews and opinions collected over a 12-month period.

Describing the city, the travel platform writes: “Dubai is a destination that mixes modern culture with history, adventure with world-class shopping and entertainment. Catch a show at the Dubai Opera, see Downtown from atop the Burj Khalifa and spend an afternoon along Dubai Creek exploring the gold, textile and spice souks.

“If you’re looking for thrills, you can float above the desert dunes in a hot air balloon, climb aboard a high-speed ride at IMG Worlds of Adventure or skydive over the Palm Jumeirah.”

Dubai was among the first cities in the world to reopen to tourists after closing its borders to shut out Covid-19.

Winter is one of the best times to visit the city and an ongoing local campaign, Dubai Destinations, highlights the Emirate’s outdoor recreational and adventure activities.

In an interview with Khaleej Times, Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), had highlighted how Dubai has reinforced its status as one of the world’s safest and fastest growing tourism destinations.

“Our proactive approach in successfully managing the pandemic allowed us to reopen the city to domestic tourists in May 2020 and international tourists in July 2020. Since then we have achieved steady growth and great momentum in the travel sector, with our latest data revealing that between January and October 2021, Dubai welcomed around 4.88 million international visitors, with international visitation in Dubai in October alone reaching over one million.

“When reviewing figures against pre-pandemic levels, hotel room inventory is now 6 per cent higher than 2019, showing how Dubai continues to lead the global tourism rebound and stimulate international business growth.”

Source: Khaleej Times

Even as the Omicron variant has parts of Europe on lockdown again, the UAE has managed, so far, to stay open to most travellers while keeping infections low.

Throughout the pandemic, the United Arab Emirates has been one of the most resilient in the face of changing Covid variants, with the world’s highest vaccination rate and extensive, affordable testing. In fact, the UAE is currently ranked number one in Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience ranking, which ranks 53 countries on 12 indicators like healthcare quality, virus mortality and reopening travel. Even as the Omicron variant has parts of Europe on lockdown again, the UAE has managed, so far, to stay open to most travellers while keeping infections low.

Due to the pandemic, its most populous city, Dubai, has also transformed itself from a global tourism hub into one more invested in its own community. “We all had to work together to protect each other,” said Kathy Johnston, chief chocolate officer at Mirzam chocolate company, who has lived in the city for more than 30 years. “People are supporting more local concepts and projects with authenticity behind them. Things are moving a little slower and more considerately. Being here now feels like a different planet to two years ago, and I love it.”

Why should I go now?

For one, the weather is perfect right now, say residents. “October to May is the best time of year to visit because it’s not excruciatingly hot anymore,” said Dubai resident Tala Mohamad. That also has meant the return of outdoor events and activities and leisurely evenings spent on the city’s numerous patio and rooftop seaside lounges.

The city is also hosting Expo 2020 until the end of March 2022, a global six-month event featuring pavilions from all over the world, showcasing unique innovations and futuristic projects. “Don’t miss [the] Expo. Just don’t,” said Johnston. “Give yourself a whole week. Wait three hours in line for Japanese sushi and enjoy the date pudding with dukkah at [on-site restaurant] Baron, and dream under the stars at the Australian pavilion.”

Travel with no trace

Dubai has worked diligently over the past decade to become more sustainable, with major investments in solar energy, water conservation and green building and infrastructure. Expo 2020 is also hosting a Sustainability Pavilion, showcasing projects like solar trees that provide shade while creating energy and a huge vertical farm growing 9,000 plants and herbs.

The pandemic unexpectedly created a boom in chefs engaging with local ingredients and talent, said Johnston, with a handful of new spaces opening up in the past two years. Some of her favourites include Orfali Bro’s for its Arabic inspirations; Tresind Studio for its upscale dinner and breakfast; and The Barn speciality coffee bar and next-door HAPI for their sweet potato pancakes.

For a unique take mixing Japanese inspiration with local produce, Mohamad recommends Moonrise at the rooftop of Eden House and its omakase menu. “For example, one dish is chutoro from Spain with honey from Ras Al Khaimah [the emirate 100km north-east of Dubai],” she said. With just eight seats, it’s usually fully booked so reserve in advance.

Resident Vibha Dhawan, a travel advisor with Ovation Travel Group, recommends Boca, which uses local ingredients like salmon from the UAE’s Fish Farm and milk from local camel dairies; and The Sum of Us, one of the first cafes in Dubai to become eco-friendly by using avocado seed straws and offering 10% off to customers who bring a reusable takeaway cup.

For a more in-depth look at the city’s sustainability initiatives, Dhawan recommends checking out the Emirates Bio Farm, the largest private organic farm in the country. “Book a group tour and sunset session,” she said. “This gives you an in-depth visit around the acres of land followed by the chance to harvest your own vegetables. They also offer pop-up dining experiences throughout the year.”

To experience the natural desert of the region, she recommends the Al Maha resort and spa. Located within Dubai’s first national park, the five-star resort is dedicated to preserving the unique ecology of the desert, including the endangered Arabian oryx. A herd of 300, the largest in Arabia, now roams freely after decades of conservation efforts. On-site field guides give guided wildlife tours on foot, 4X4, camel and horseback.

For an experience in the heart of the city, the new 25hours One Central hotel, which opened in December 2021, celebrates the country’s traditions by immersing visitors in theme of hakawati, Arabic for storytelling. The experience starts in the lobby with the circular “Fountain of Tales” library with more than 5,000 books, topped with rotating art from local artists, and continues throughout the hotel with Bedouin-inspired art and décor, a tribute to both ancient and modern nomads.

Know before you go

The Omicron variant has travel restrictions changing rapidly, so check the UAE Travel to Dubai page for the latest notices and requirements. Currently, travel is open to vaccinated tourists with a WHO-approved vaccine, though visitors must undergo a rapid test on arrival. Unvaccinated travellers must provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. Travel is currently suspended for those coming from or transiting through certain African countries.

Travellers must download the Al Hosn app, the UAE’s official contact tracing and health status app, which uses a colour-coded system (grey, red, green) to reflect test results and vaccination status. The Dubai Health Authority offers the DXB Smart app, available for Android and iOS, which gives visitors real-time information about UAE’s current Covid rates, tracks test results and exposures, and is used to show vaccination status within the emirate.

Source: BBC Travel