Dubai’s Open-City Policy Saw Hotel Bookings Surge in December

  • Occupancy hit 71% in December, helped by U.K. travel corridor
  • Hotels have been hit hard last year by travel restrictions

Photographer: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images

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Occupancy at Dubai’s hotels surged in December and neared pre-pandemic levels as travelers flocked to the emirate to escape coronavirus lockdowns at home.

Hotels were 71% full last month -- the highest figure since February -- research firm STR said, citing preliminary data. Dubai’s hotel occupancy, for years one of the highest in the world, slumped to 23% in part of 2020 from about 80%.