Dubai firms gearing up for busy events season

As the region enters its highly anticipated event season, several industries, including mobility, hospitality, and retail, are reporting strong demand driven by major events. Key players across sectors are seeing a significant uptick in bookings, sales, and consumer interest, reflecting the strong recovery of the travel, tourism, and event industries.

Soham Shah, CEO of Selfdrive Mobility, said: “With the event season in full swing, we are observing a substantial increase in vehicle reservations, driven by heightened demand from both business and leisure travelers. Major events such as GITEX Global, Dubai Airshow, and the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are contributing significantly to this surge, with a notable rise in short-term rentals and long-term subscriptions. Our customer base spans a variety of nationalities, including GCC residents, European visitors, and Indian travellers.

"The most in-demand vehicles are luxury sedans, SUVs. Key areas of high demand include Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah, and Palm Jumeirah, all strategic locations close to event venues and business districts. We have recorded a 25% increase in reservations compared to the same period last year, largely fueled by the resurgence of large-scale events and the overall recovery of the travel and tourism sector. For the upcoming quarter, we anticipate further growth of approximately 30% for the short-term weekly reservations, driven by the continuing demand for premium vehicles.”

Michael Chan, General Manager, Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel Dubai, said: “As the traditional cooler season approaches, we are seeing a gradual increase in booking activity, particularly in anticipation of annual trade events and conferences. With our proximity to the World Trade Centre and convenient public transportation access, we expect a further rise in demand. The leisure segment is also thriving, with numerous inquiries already for the months following October. Our key inbound markets—India, China, the USA, Germany, and the MENA region—each have distinct preferences that influence their choice of location and accommodation, prioritizing connectivity, amenities, and proximity to iconic attractions. Areas such as Downtown Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah, Bur Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Al Barsha are currently experiencing notable booking increases. This past summer saw a 27% drop in tourism compared to the previous year, which negatively impacted occupancy rates and average daily rates (ADR). However, there was a 15% increase in last-minute bookings, indicating a growing trend toward spontaneous travel. While we are optimistic about a 6% rise in occupancy this quarter, we expect a 2% decrease in revenue due to factors such as COP-28’s impact last year and declining spending power, potentially lowering ADR by 3%. The trend of shorter booking lead times is creating new challenges in forecasting demand.”