Dubai has reported strong visitor numbers in the first half of the year, with a 10% year-on-year increase in travellers from the UK and Ireland.

Between January and June, 555,000 tourists from the UK and Ireland visited Dubai, showing the Emirate is “steadily advancing towards its goal of becoming the world’s most visited destination”, the tourism board said.

Overall, Dubai welcomed a total of 8.6 million in the first six months of the year, which was up from 7.1 million in the same period in 2022.

Issam Kazim, chief executive of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “The first half of the year industry performance is testament to the future-oriented strategy of our visionary leadership to position Dubai as the best city in the world to visit, live and work.

“Within a highly competitive global tourism ecosystem, Dubai has continued to accelerate momentum and stay ahead of the curve, primarily by highlighting the diversity of the city’s offerings and the flexibility of our portfolio.

“Central to our success in showcasing Dubai as a must visit destination is fostering multi level partnerships between the public and private sectors.”