Dubai vs Riyadh

Dubai leads Riyadh by 1 points on the TRAIL Index, 60 to 59. Dubai grades better on 10 measures, Riyadh on 4; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Dubai 60, Riyadh 59
• OECD: Dubai 70, Riyadh 62
• UN Tourism: Dubai 68, Riyadh 52
• UNDRR: Dubai 65, Riyadh 57

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Dubai 88, Riyadh 85
• Economy and jobs: Dubai 88, Riyadh 88
• Climate and hazards: Dubai 35, Riyadh 50
• Water and environment: Dubai 44, Riyadh 19
• Community and housing: Dubai 83, Riyadh 67
• Access and continuity: Dubai 75, Riyadh 57

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.
• 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.
• Wastewater safely treated: 90 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Government of Dubai Media Office, 2023). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• 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.
• Rent growth: -3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Cushman & Wakefield Core, Dubai residential market (Q2 2026), Q2 2026 (year on year)). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• 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.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Skift, Dubai turns to new visitors and events to ride out tourism slowdown (June 2026), 2026). Grade 3/4.
• 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.

Where Riyadh is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 85.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, Tourism Statistics in Saudi Arabia | Annual Statistical Report 2024, 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Economic diversity: 78.4 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (country figure) (GASTAT (Register-based Labour Market Statistics / GLMM), Q1 2025). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Saudi Arabia: #29 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Dubai in full · Riyadh in full

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