UAE's Burj Al Arab to close for 18 months refurbishment after Dubai tourism drop-off

UAE's Burj Al Arab to close for 18 months refurbishment after Dubai tourism drop-off Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 04/15/2026 - 16:09 Number of tourists visiting emirate slumps in the wake of Iranian attacks United Arab Emirates army helicopters fly past Burj al Arab hotel, in Dubai on January 16, 2026 (Fadel Senna / AFP) Off Dubai 's famous Burj Al Arab hotel is to close for 18 months for refurbishments following a drop-off in tourism as a result of Iranian attacks. In a statement on ​Tuesday, the ​hotel's owner Jumeirah said said "long-awaited" work would be carried out in ⁠phases over some 18 months, ​led by Paris-based interior architect Tristan Auer. The statement did not specifiy whether the sail-shaped hotel would remain open, but a staff member told Reuters it would be and was set to offer alternative accommodation ​in nearby hotels to guests with bookings during ​the work.