Dubai - More people visited Dubai in the second quarter of 2009 than during the same period in 2008, leading to claims the emirate is finally bouncing back from the recession.
Dubai hosted almost 1,858,000 visitors for business and tourism from April to June this year, a four per cent increase on the same period in 2008. The UK and Ireland remains the largest regional provider with 197,000 visitors, or 10.6 per cent of the emirate’s total, for Q2.
The increase is attributed largely to government investment and promotion of Dubai’s local tourism industry. However, tourism aside, Dubai’s alleged green shoots of recovery are still overshadowed by the estimated AED18 billion ($4.9 billion) in pending construction claims.
A spokesman for the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, the body that organises adjudication in legal disputes, said the number of claims it expects to deal with this year will triple as the construction sector reels from unpaid contractor bills.
More than 180 new cases had been registered so far this year, compared with just 100 for the whole of 2008. Eighty per cent of these are believed to be construction disputes, with the rest involving real estate.
However, despite these development problems, Ian Scott, director, UK and Ireland, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing, claims Dubai is bouncing back. “Investment in the product continues, contrary to some reports, at a time when slashing budgets would be the easier option. Throughout this challenging period, we have remained realistic but confident, even in the face of criticism.
“Although there is a long way to go, we are managing the situation - the figures speak for themselves, showing that Dubai is on the road to recovery.”
One venue that does appear to be unaffected by the current spate of development disputes is the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Its new extension, titled the Sheikh Saeed Halls, will be open and available for events by the end of the year. The new facility comprises four inter-connected halls including one multi-purpose hall known as The Arena. The expansion will create a total of one million square feet of covered venue space.
