'We need people to come back': Dubai's tourism industry reels as foreigners flee

'We need people to come back': Dubai's tourism industry reels as foreigners flee Submitted by MEE correspondent on Tue, 05/05/2026 - 07:30 The war on Iran has had a devastating impact on tourists visiting Dubai with hotels and local businesses suffering Empty beds are pictured before high-rise buildings along a beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) in Dubai on 11 March 2026 (Fadel Senna/AFP) Off Dubai is facing an existential crisis with the US and Israeli war on Iran forcing tourism numbers to fall sharply, with widespread hotel closures and job losses decimating the global tourism hotspots' hospitality sector. On Monday, Dubai Airports reported that first-quarter passenger traffic was down by at least 2. 5 million from the same period in 2025, with March seeing a 66 percent drop in passenger numbers as travellers chose to steer clear of the Gulf.