{
  "id": 7342290,
  "title": "UAE's hospitality sector shifts from crisis to recovery amid Iran war fallout",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/uaes-hospitality-sector-shifts-from-crisis-to-recovery-amid-iran-war",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T14:55:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/09/14/uaes-hospitality-sector-shifts-from-crisis-to-recovery-amid-iran-war-fallout/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UAE’s hospitality industry, once battered by the Iran conflict, is now witnessing a robust recovery, according to industry experts. The sector had suffered significant losses due to reduced tourism revenue resulting from the ongoing war, which began in February. However, recent data indicates that Dubai’s tourism sector is displaying signs of bounce-back even as the conflict persists. Raymond Khoury, a management consultancy leader in Dubai, stated that the UAE is moving from resilience to recovery. September is a pivotal month for the UAE economy, with an expected upturn in business activity, hiring, trade, and connectivity.\n\nVictor Abou-Ghanem, CEO of Story Hospitality, highlighted the shift in consumer behavior and the sector's appeal to new markets as key factors in the recovery. While he acknowledged that 2025 was one of the best years ever, Abou-Ghanem expressed optimism that the sector could match that performance in the coming years. He noted that while the UAE was still recovering guests from Europe, it was seeing a surge in visitors from Asia.\n\nThe UAE's positioning as a must-see destination has also played a crucial role in the recovery, said Abou-Ghanem. Tourists flock to the UAE for its landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower in France and the pyramids in Cairo. According to Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO of Marjan, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are attracting visitors from all over the world, even as people feel safe and secure in the region.\n\nHowever, flight disruptions and traveler uncertainty remain challenges. Eti Bhasin, executive director at Majestic Hotels UAE, observed that the Iran war led to greater hesitation, softer bookings, and increased price sensitivity among tourists during the summer months. Nevertheless, she expects demand to strengthen from September onwards, particularly in the final quarter, as Dubai enters its traditional winter season. Factors such as improved weather, the return of international travelers, and a strong calendar of exhibitions and events are expected to support increased demand.\n\nHospitality leaders cautioned against expecting a stronger year-over-year performance across the board. Despite the sector's recovery, hotel performance in the first half of 2026 declined, with revenue per available room (RevPAR) falling by 31 percent year-to-date. There were no hotel launches in Dubai or Abu Dhabi during this period, as hospitality groups focused on upgrades to prepare for the return of demand. The report highlighted strategies to offset the decline in international arrivals, including discounted room rates, staycation bundles, and incentives for UAE and GCC residents.\n\nDespite the challenges, Dubai’s government reported that hotel occupancy reached 66 percent in August, equivalent to 89 percent of the city’s occupancy levels in August 2025. This marks a significant improvement from March, when occupancy was as low as 36 percent. Many hotels fell to single digits at the height of the war. While experts agree that the outlook for the months ahead is more positive as demand normalizes, underlying uncertainty has led to changes in travel booking patterns. International travelers are waiting longer before making final decisions, leading to shorter booking windows. However, hotel booking patterns are gradually returning to normal seasonal levels. Ahmed Abdraboh, director of sales and marketing at Abu Dhabi’s Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa, noted that a combination of improved travel confidence, the return of corporate activity, major events, and the seasonal increase of leisure travel is expected to support demand for the upcoming season.",
  "summary": "The UAE’s hospitality sector is transitioning from absorbing heavy blows from the Iran war to displaying signs of a strong recovery, experts have said. Hospitality chiefs told The National of their confidence of an upturn in the coming months after tourism revenue fell due to the conflict, with the UAE expected to see the usual winter boost. Newly released figures suggest that Dubai’s tourism…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "UAE's hospitality sector shifts from crisis to recovery amid Iran war fallout",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/uaes-hospitality-sector-shifts-from-crisis-to-recovery-amid-iran-war-7343271",
        "published": "2026-09-14T14:55:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}