Dubai tourist arrivals plunge 44pc as regional war hits travel

DUBAI, Sept 14 — The number of international tourists visiting Dubai dropped by 44 per cent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2026 amid escalating tensions in West Asia, according to data from Dubai’s Economy and Tourism Department, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

Ahead of the annual Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai, officials released data on tourist numbers for the first time since February. Previously, such figures had been published on a monthly basis.

In the first eight months of 2026, the city welcomed 6.97 million international tourists, including 869,000 in August, the highest monthly figure since February, the Dubai Media Office said.

Monthly performance reports for Dubai’s tourism sector, available on the department’s website, show that 12.54 million tourists visited the city between January and August 2025.

Consequently, tourist arrivals fell by more than 44 per cent, representing a drop of nearly 5.6 million people in absolute terms.

In 2025, Dubai welcomed a record 19.6 million international tourists.

Dubai authorities aimed to transform the emirate into a year-round tourist destination and one of the world’s top three tourism hubs.

Amid regional tensions and flight cancellations after the escalation in February, many hotels in Dubai closed for renovations. — Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti