Dubai’s tourism industry reels from ‘brutal’ impact of war

Last year Dubai welcomed 19.59 million international visitors, making it one of the most-visited cities globally, but the US-Israel war with Iran has had a devastating impact on visitor numbers, and local businesses are struggling.

On most evenings, Dubai’s restaurants would usually be packed, with the constant buzz of diners, of tourists and residents filling tables across the city. But over the past month, many of those tables have sat empty.

For Natasha Sideris, the shift has been sudden and stark. She opened her first restaurant in Dubai in 2014. Over the past decade, her Tashas hospitality group has grown to 14 outlets across the country, employing more than 1,000 people. But the US-Israel war with Iran is now taking a heavy toll on her business.

Sideris says many of her restaurants, which are popular with both residents and expats, have seen revenues fall by more than 50%. But outlets that depend heavily on tourists have been hit much harder, with declines of 70% to 80%. The crisis has forced her to cut salaries by 30% for all staff including herself.

“The current situation is brutal,” she says. “I had a choice – either fire 30% of my staff or cut salaries to save jobs. I chose the latter for now.”