Bangkok vs Dubai
Bangkok and Dubai are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Bangkok grades better on 7 measures, Dubai on 10; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Bangkok 60, Dubai 60
- OECD: Bangkok 57, Dubai 70
- UN Tourism: Bangkok 63, Dubai 68
- UNDRR: Bangkok 61, Dubai 65
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Bangkok 70, Dubai 88
- Economy and jobs: Bangkok 56, Dubai 88
- Climate and hazards: Bangkok 25, Dubai 35
- Water and environment: Bangkok 50, Dubai 44
- Community and housing: Bangkok 75, Dubai 83
- Access and continuity: Bangkok 75, Dubai 75
Where Bangkok is stronger
- Domestic share of nights: 33.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). Between 25 and 35: grade 2/4.
- Extreme heat days: 32.4 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 1/4.
- Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Green space: 31 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2024). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
- Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Bangkok Port (Port Authority of Thailand) & State Railway of Thailand, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (TAT Newsroom, 2026). Grade 4/4.
- Travel advisory: 2 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). Between 1 and 2: grade 3/4.
Where Dubai is stronger
- Largest foreign market: 11 % of international arrivals or nights (Emirates NBD Research & Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
- Average length of stay: 3.7 nights per visitor (Public Debt Management Office, Dubai’s Tourism industry Achieves Third successive Record-breaking Year, 2025). At or above 3.5: 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.
- Income per head: 79,344 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2024). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
- Economic diversity: 68.7 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (country figure) (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) / Gulf Labour Markets, Migration, and Population (GLMM), 2022). Between 64 and 72: grade 2/4.
- Wildfire and storm hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- Country disaster risk: 2.3 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 90 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Government of Dubai Media Office, 2023). Between 85 and 95: 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.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- Thailand: #38 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Bangkok in full · Dubai in full
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