Doha vs Dubai
Doha and Dubai are level on the TRAIL Index at 60. Doha grades better on 6 measures, Dubai on 9; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- TRAIL Index: Doha 60, Dubai 60
- OECD: Doha 63, Dubai 70
- UN Tourism: Doha 63, Dubai 68
- UNDRR: Doha 63, Dubai 65
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Doha 67, Dubai 88
- Economy and jobs: Doha 92, Dubai 88
- Climate and hazards: Doha 50, Dubai 35
- Water and environment: Doha 44, Dubai 44
- Community and housing: Doha 100, Dubai 83
- Access and continuity: Doha 54, Dubai 75
Where Doha is stronger
- Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Country disaster risk: 1.5 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 99.7 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (Planning and Statistics Authority / National Planning Council (State of Qatar), 2021). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
- Tourism intensity: 3.5 visitor nights per resident per year (country figure) (Qatar News Agency / Qatar Tourism, 'Qatar Tourism Marks 2025 as a Year of Global Milestones and Resilient Growth' & National Planning Council Qatar, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Euronews / Gulf Times / Qatar Tourism, 2026). Grade 4/4.
Where Dubai is stronger
- Nights in the three busiest months: 28.7 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2022, 2023 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
- Domestic share of nights: 21.2 % of nights by residents of the same country (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). Between 15 and 25: grade 1/4.
- Largest foreign market: 11 % of international arrivals or nights (Emirates NBD Research & Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 80.7 % average annual occupancy (Government of Dubai, Department of Finance, citing DET hospitality metrics, 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
- Jobs in tourism industries: 5.2 % of employment in accommodation and food services (Dubai Statistics Center, employed persons by main economic activity (Labour Force Survey), 2019). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 401.5 kg per resident per year (Government of Dubai Media Office / Dubai Municipality, 2021). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Dubai Government Media Office / Traveller365, 2026). Grade 4/4.
- Government effectiveness: 82.5 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Government of Dubai / Executive Council Resolution No. (2) of 2014 & DET, 2025-2026). Grade 2/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- Qatar: #47 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
The TRAIL Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · TRAIL Studio · Put your city in the pilot