Dubai is facing a crisis. The US and Israel's war with Iran is drastically reducing the number of visitors, and widespread hotel closures and job losses are decimating the hotel sector of this global tourism center, writes the Middle East Eye portal.
On Monday, Dubai Airports, the operator that manages Dubai's international airports, said first-quarter passenger traffic was down by at least 2.5 million compared to the same period in 2025, and passenger numbers were down 66% in March as travelers chose to avoid the Gulf.
“We need people to [zagraniczni turyści] they are back,” said Charity, a hotel worker in Dubai.
Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic.
According to Dubai Airports, only 51 of 90 airlines have resumed operations at the airportand European and US airlines are struggling to obtain insurance due to government travel warnings.
'Dubai's ethos has been shaken'
Dubai makes every effort to support and reassure its residents. As you travel around the city, you'll notice plenty of UAE flags displayed in front of homes and businesses, and on digital signboards and billboards along highways, writes Middle East Eye.
But longtime residents and business owners say the effects of the intercepted missiles and drones were felt almost immediately.
Tatiana, a Russian national who runs a logistics company for companies planning to operate in the Persian Gulf, said she was shocked by how quickly the attitude of current and future companies had changed.
“In the first two weeks, people [mówili]that it's not worth it anymore [tu mieszkać]. They weren't afraid, they just felt it wasn't worth it.”
“Companies suddenly started liquidating their assets.”
She said her family is now considering an alternative to Dubai in Europe.
Tatiana said the attacks particularly affected her work. “Our entire business is based on reassuring people that the UAE is a safe and convenient place to do business,” she said.
Her statement is almost identical to what Arjun, one of the 3.5-4.3 million Indians living in the UAE, said. “The whole ethos of Dubai as a conflict-free place has been shaken,” he said.
Source: Middle East Eye
