Dubai yacht arrivals surge 149% in H1 2025

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%.