Dubai yacht arrivals surge 149% in H1 2025

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Dubai Marina

Dubai’s status as a global marine tourism hub continues to grow, with the emirate recording a 149% jump in foreign yacht arrivals in the first half of 2025.

According to Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA), city marinas attracted 97 international yachts between January and June, more than twice the 39 vessels recorded in the same period last year and an increase of 58 visiting yachts in just six months.

The surge highlights Dubai’s rising appeal among yacht owners and charter operators worldwide, driven by world-class marinas, premium services and sustained investment in infrastructure.

Officials say the uptick exceeds forecasts across key performance indicators.

Marine tourism is emerging as one of Dubai’s fastest-growing segments, strengthened by joint efforts between DMA and Dubai Tourism to position the emirate as the Middle East’s premier yachting hub.

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The two entities recently launched Dock & Dine, a lifestyle initiative giving short-stay yacht visitors access to 20 marinas with direct links to Dubai’s waterfront restaurants, hotels, cultural sites and entertainment.

Supporting the surge, sector activity and capacity are also on the rise. The number of berths managed by DMA increased by 1.2% in H1 2025, adding 48 new spaces to bring the total to 4,190.

New marine licenses issued climbed 19% year-on-year to 1,273, while permits rose 8.2% to 2,404 and license renewals rose 12.1%.

Marine tourism is emerging as one of Dubai’s fastest-growing segments

Recreational activity mirrored this upward trend, with a 25.6% rise in permits issued for yacht charters, diving clubs, boat rentals and jet ski operations.

Infrastructure developments are further reshaping the seascape. February 2025 saw the opening of the Jewel of the Creek Marina, now home to both local vessels and superyachts, followed by the debut of the Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Marina, a new luxury waterfront destination featuring yacht berths alongside restaurants and resort facilities.

HE Sheikh Dr Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, CEO of the Dubai Maritime Authority, said: “These results highlight our commitment to developing maritime infrastructure and delivering world-leading services to support marine tourism, sustainable innovation, and the local maritime economy.”

This momentum in yachting reflects the wider success of Dubai’s tourism sector, which welcomed 11.17 million international visitors between January and July 2025, a 5% year-on-year increase.

For more information, visit eservices.dmca.ae