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 fi...
Dubai experienced a 44% year-on-year decline in international tourist arrivals during the first eight months of 2026, according to data released by the city's Economy and Tourism Department. The tourism department stated that Dubai welcomed 6.97 million international tourists in the first eight months of 2026, with August recording the highest monthly figure since February, with 869,000 visitors.
This represents a significant drop of nearly 5.6 million people, or more than 44%, compared to the same period in 2025 when the city saw 12.54 million tourists.
The decline in tourist arrivals can be attributed to the escalating tensions in West Asia, which led to flight cancellations and closures of many hotels in Dubai for renovations. Dubai had set ambitious goals to become a year-round tourist destination and one of the world's top three tourism hubs. However, the recent regional unrest has impacted the city's tourism industry, causing a substantial decrease in visitor numbers.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
