Dubai’s Hotels See Occupancy Rates Rise To 79%

Dubai’s hotels are recording strong growth, with year to date occupancy rates rising to 79 per cent, according to a Q3 report by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

While year to date average daily rates reached $235, revenue per available rooms (RevPar) grew 7.5 per cent reaching $185 in August as compared to August 2012, said the report.

“Hospitality is one of the strongest backbones of Dubai’s economy,” said Wouter Molman, director of Cityscape Global exhibition.

“Hospitality is the last sector that I will be worried about over a price bubble since there has been growth in areas like the RevPar and occupancy levels which has sustained really well.”

The supply of hotel units into the emirate was steady in Q3, said JLL. New openings included Sofitel and Anantara in Palm Jumeirah and The Conrad Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Several hotel developments were announced during the period including one in JBR, two hotels by Majid Al Futtaim Group, the Dream Hotel in Marina and TRYP by Wyndham in TECOM.

More recently, Dubai Properties Group too unveiled plans to build a new waterfront hotel in the Jumeirah Beach Residence community.

Major openings scheduled for 2014 include the Four Seasons, Intercontinental Marina, the second tower of JW Marriott Marquis and Marriott Al Jadaf.