Dubai just served another reminder that hospitality is still one of the city's hottest conversations. On March 17, 2026, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met with Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor Group, in Dubai. The meeting focused on tourism, hospitality, and the city's appeal for international investment — and it landed at exactly the right moment.
Sheikh Hamdan and Accor Had Dubai Hospitality Front and Center
During the meeting, Sheikh Hamdan spoke about Dubai's position as a leading global tourism destination and a strong market for international business. He stressed the importance of stronger public and private sector partnerships in supporting competitiveness and economic growth across key industries, including tourism.
He also thanked the teams working throughout Accor's Dubai properties for their role in improving the visitor experience — a detail that kept the conversation grounded in what people actually experience on the ground in the city's hotels.
The meeting was also attended by Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, Gaurav Bhushan, Accor's Global Chief Development Officer, and Duncan O'Rourke, CEO of Accor's Premium, Midscale and Economy division for the Middle East, Africa, Türkiye and Asia-Pacific.
The Timing Made This Meeting Even More Significant
This update came right after Dubai posted another major tourism year. According to Dubai Media Office, the city welcomed 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, up from 18.72 million in 2024 — a third consecutive record-breaking year.
Hotel occupancy reached 80.7 percent in 2025, while occupied room nights hit 44.85 million. The average daily rate rose to AED 579 and revenue per available room reached AED 467, up 11 percent year-on-year.
That timing matters. The Sheikh Hamdan and Accor CEO meeting landed while Dubai already had fresh tourism momentum on the table, making it a strategic conversation rather than a routine calendar update.
Accor's Confidence in Dubai's Hospitality Market
Gulf News reported that Bazin expressed confidence in Dubai's market prospects and in the continued expansion of Accor's portfolio. He also praised the UAE's approach to disruption through prudent contingency planning and institutional resilience.
Accor remains one of the world's largest hospitality groups, with a significant footprint across the UAE. A direct meeting between its top executive and Dubai's leadership keeps the city firmly positioned in the global hotel investment conversation.
For anyone watching tourism, travel, or hospitality investment, this was the kind of update that says plenty without needing to say too much. Dubai wants international hotel groups invested in its future — and Accor's CEO showing up confirms that interest is mutual.
