Dubai: Hotels in the UAE saw occupancy rise 1.1 per cent to 84 per cent during March, compared to the corresponding period a year ago. However, visitors payed slightly lower room rates, according to STR Global, a provider of hotel data.

The average daily rate (ADR) in the country touched Dh871.91, down 0.2 per cent, while revenue per available room (RevPAR — a benchmark for performance) stood at Dh732.67.

In the last few months, brands such as Warwick International Hotels have opened properties in the UAE. Sofitel Dubai Downtown’s opening will follow next month.

The UAE has 120 hotels in the pipeline with 34,671 rooms, according to the STR Global Construction Pipeline Report for March.

Occupancy was “over 80 per cent” in Dubai’s hotels during March, according to Elizabeth Winkle, managing director of STR Global. STR Global forecast the emirate’s hotel occupancy to reach 83.7 per cent in April.

In the two months that follow, occupancy could drop by 4 to 5 per cent due to the runway repairs at Dubai International Airport, Philip Wooller, area director for the Middle East and Africa at STR Global, told Gulf News. The repair work, which will start on May 1, is expected to reduce the number of flights at the airport by 26 per cent.

Meanwhile, hotels in the Middle East and Africa saw occupancy reach 66.9 per cent last month, marking a 0.7 per cent decline, while ADR reached $178.18 (Dh654.45) and RevPAR touched $119.19. During the first quarter, the region’s hotel occupancy rose 1.2 per cent to 65.5 per cent.

ADR, meanwhile, was $179.74 and RevPAR was $117.72, marking an increase of 2.9 per cent and 4.2 per cent, respectively.

Occupancy in Beirut, Lebanon’s hotels reached 38.9 per cent, plummeting 25.1 per cent — the largest drop in the region. RevPAR, meanwhile, was down 29.8 per cent to $54.45.

Elsewhere in the region, hotels in Egypt posted an occupancy of 43.7 per cent, which was down 18.8 per cent, while RevPAR was EGP198.11, marking a 20 per cent drop.

In Saudi Arabia’s hotels, occupancy was 71.1 per cent, which declined 1.3 per cent, and RevPAR was 507.29 Saudi riyals (Dh496.60).