BIG NUMBER
19.5 million. That’s how many international overnight tourists visited Dubai last year to mark the third straight year of record-breaking tourism performance. Average hotel occupancy reached 80.7% (on par with New York City’s 84.1%) and Dubai closed the year with more than 2 million international visitors in a single month for the first time in December.
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Key background
Early in the conflict, Iranian missile and drone attacks near Dubai saw debris fall across parts of the city, including major residential areas, hotels and the airport. Images of fragments striking the Fairmont hotel on the upscale Palm Island were circulated widely online, and more than a dozen people have been killed in Dubai. Airlines suspended or rerouted thousands of flights, countries repeatedly closed their airspace and governments issued tougher travel advisories, making the Middle East riskier to reach. The conflict has also dented tourism and local businesses are taking the hit. One Dubai restaurant group told the BBC revenues have fallen more than 50% and some eateries that depend heavily on tourists have seen declines of 70% to 80%. One senior executive at a restaurant chain in Dubai told the outlet foot traffic has dropped to 15% to 20% of normal and more than half of the chain’s staff has been placed on unpaid leave. Some of Dubai’s most famous hotels have closed entirely and moved up renovation and refurbishment plans, including the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab which will close for 18 months for a major restoration. The number of international visitors to Jordan has fallen about 30%, tourism in Lebanon has effectively collapsed with industry groups reporting an 80% decline in visitor numbers and the broader Middle East recorded a 14% drop in international tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2026.
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further reading
ForbesGlobal Tourism Hits 1.5 Billion Travelers As Airlines Post Record RevenueBy Frank Holmes
ForbesUS Passport Stuck At No. 10 In Power Rankings—As 36 Countries Offer More Freedom Of MovementBy Suzanne Rowan KelleherForbesWhy Airfares Won’t Likely Drop This SummerBy Suzanne Rowan Kelleher