Qatar Tourism recorded 5.1 million visitor arrivals in 2025, up 3.7 per cent year on year, driven by significant events and expanded global outreach. Accommodation revenues rose 12 per cent to QAR 8.3 billion with strong growth in marketing, partnerships, and MICE activity, reinforcing Qatar's position as a leading year-round destination ahead of Doha's designation as GCC Tourism capital 2026.
Qatar Tourism has reported 2025 as a year marked by global milestones and sustained growth, underscoring the country's continued rise as a year-round tourism destination. Total international visitor arrivals reached 5.1 million, a 3.7 per cent increase from 2024. December saw 674,000 visitors, a 16 per cent year-on-year rise, supported by major international events, including the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025.
The country's hospitality sector recorded a strong performance across all indicators, with more than 10.8 million room nights sold in 2025, an 8.6 per cent increase from the previous year, while total accommodation revenue rose to QAR 8.3 billion, reflecting 12 per cent annual growth. These results underline Qatar's tourism industry's resilience and its ability to maintain momentum through diversified source markets and a robust events calendar.
Throughout 2025, Qatar Tourism and Visit Qatar advanced a coordinated global marketing and partnership strategy. Over 35 international strategic partnerships were activated alongside 95 integrated marketing campaigns spanning 19 global markets, contributing to strong international visibility. The Qatar Calendar hosted more than 600 events, including cultural, sports, and entertainment programmes, that reinforced Qatar's position as a vibrant event-driven destination.
The MICE sector demonstrated significant strength, welcoming over one million international business visitors and securing 14 international bids for conferences and exhibitions scheduled through 2026 and 2027. The announcement of Doha as the GCC Tourism Capital for 2026 further underscored the country's growing regional leadership in sustainable, service-led tourism development.
Qatar continued to prioritise service excellence, exemplified by the launch of Taste of Qatar, a nationwide initiative evaluating more than 800 restaurants, with 150 establishments receiving 3-star certification. The MICHELIN Guide Doha also continued to expand its footprint. Workforce capability building progressed steadily, with over 55,600 participants completing the Qatar Host programme and 13000 graduates from the Qatar Specialist programme since 2022.
Digital and operational systems were enhanced to ensure readiness for large-scale events. The Hayya platform processed nearly 1 million e-visa applications and supported over 1.1 million ticket scans during the FIFA Arab Cup, with no critical disruptions. Cruise tourism also advanced with 72 calls scheduled for the 2025-2026 season, signalling a growing segment within Qatar's tourism mix.
Collectively, these achievements reflect Qatar Tourism's strategic delivery aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, focused on sustainable growth, service excellence, and long-term economic contribution. As Qatar enters 2026, its tourism ecosystem remains positive for continued expansion through innovation, collaboration and global engagement.
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