The emirate's strong performance is twice the global travel industry average of four percent over the same four-year period as estimated by United Nations World Travel Organization, and is a solid foundation for achieving the target of 20 million visitors by 2020.

Growth was recorded in visitor numbers from South Asia, China, the UK and Russia, up 13 percent, 20 percent, five percent and 14 percent, respectively, Meanwhile tourists from Saudi Arabia continued to be the dominant market, with more than 1.6 million arrivals, a six percent rise over 2015.