Sharjah hotels draw 2.1 million guests as airport traffic fuels tourism boom

Dubai: Sharjah’s hotels welcomed 2.1 million guests in 2025, a 22% increase on the previous year, as stronger airport traffic and new travel links helped drive demand across the emirate’s hospitality sector, according to Cavendish Maxwell.

Annual hotel revenues rose 20% to Dh780 million, while occupancy reached 78%. The average daily rate stood at Dh305, with guests staying for an average of two nights.

Cavendish Maxwell said the rise in hotel guests was supported by a 14% increase in passenger traffic at Sharjah International Airport, which handled 19.5 million travellers in 2025.

The airport is targeting 20 million annual passengers by 2027, while a Dh4.2 billion expansion is already under way. Sharjah also added eight new routes and four new airlines last year, improving access to the emirate and widening its visitor base.

“Sharjah currently has 10,700 keys across 102 hotels, most of which are in the mid-tier sector, reflecting the emirate’s positioning as a mid-market tourism and business travel destination," said Ali Siddiqui, Research Manager at Cavendish Maxwell. "However, upcoming hotel supply is increasingly focusing on higher-end segments. Three luxury and upscale hotels with a total of 476 keys are planned between now and 2030, indicating a shift towards – and confidence in – more premium accommodation.

“Meanwhile, major infrastructure investment and expansion are further boosting tourism inflows and hospitality demand in Sharjah. An Dh4.2 billion expansion is under way at Sharjah International Airport, where 8 new routes and 4 new airlines were introduced last year. In addition, the Dh40 billion, 1,200km Etihad Rail network connecting Sharjah with key emirates, is set to unlock more hospitality sector growth,” he added.

Sharjah’s hotel market is still led by mid-tier accommodation, but Cavendish Maxwell said upcoming supply points to growing confidence in the higher-end segment.

Three luxury and upscale hotels are planned by 2030, adding 476 keys to the market. That would broaden Sharjah’s hospitality offering beyond its established base of mid-market tourism and business travel, while helping the emirate compete for visitors seeking more premium stays.

The shift also comes as infrastructure projects improve access to Sharjah. The Etihad Rail network, valued at Dh40 billion and spanning 1,200 kilometres, is expected to strengthen links between Sharjah and other emirates, creating further support for tourism and hospitality demand.

Sharjah’s hospitality growth is also playing out alongside a stronger property market.

Cavendish Maxwell said real estate transactions in the emirate reached a record Dh65.6 billion in 2025, up 64% from the previous year. The momentum continued into 2026, with first-quarter transaction values rising 41% year on year to Dh18.5 billion.

Nearly 9,980 properties were sold in Sharjah between January and March 2026, a 23% increase on the same period last year.

Cavendish Maxwell said real estate sales data takes several weeks to appear in official statistics, meaning the first-quarter figures include transactions signed both before and after the conflict began. The second-quarter numbers, expected in the coming months, will give a clearer view of market direction.