The tourism industry on the Arabian Peninsula has recorded impressive growth in recent years.
However, the war between the US - Israel and Iran and Tehran's retaliatory moves across the borders of the Gulf countries are slowing down this growth momentum.
Since the war broke out, hundreds of thousands of tourists around the world have been stranded in many countries in the region.
Widespread airspace closures in many areas of the Arabian Peninsula prevent both vacationers and business travelers from returning home. The disruption of sea transport through the Strait of Hormuz also affects tourist ships still operating in the Persian Gulf.
The current crisis is a major shock to countries in the region," said Hans Hopfinger, a long-time professor of cultural geography at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, who has studied tourism development in the Middle East and North Africa.
According to him, in recent years, many Gulf countries have made efforts to promote the image of safe destinations.
In Dubai or other cities, there have never been terrorist attacks like in some other tourist hotspots in Arab countries," Professor Hopfinger said.
Tourism industry grows rapidly
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Middle East and North Africa are "one of the fastest growing tourism regions in the world". In 2025, nearly 100 million international tourists visited countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This figure increased by 39% compared to 2019 - the time just before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. According to UNWTO, no other region in the world achieved similar growth rates.
The scale of the tourism industry, especially in the Gulf countries, is clearly shown at Dubai International Airport - which has developed into a global aviation hub in recent years.
According to airport data, more than 95 million international passengers passed through here in 2025 - the highest level ever and more than any airport in the world. In the same year, Dubai also set a tourism record for the third consecutive year when welcoming nearly 20 million visitors.
Professor Hopfinger believes that this success is largely due to a long-term planning strategy. Diversifying the economy, reducing dependence on oil and gas, has been early identified as a strategic priority.
Dubai is the first emirate to build a comprehensive master plan, promoting shopping tourism, golf tournaments, major sports events and many cultural activities. After that, other Gulf countries also followed this direction.
Saudi Arabia opens to tourism
Saudi Arabia began issuing electronic visas to tourists from 2019. For decades, this oil-rich country has hardly had the economic momentum to develop the tourism industry. According to Mr. Hopfinger, countries with large oil and gas reserves previously simply did not need to focus on tourism.
Conversely, countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Morocco or Oman have invested in tourism early to diversify their economies.
Within the framework of the large-scale Vision 2030 reform program, Saudi Arabia is pouring billions of USD into major development projects to reposition the country's image as a global tourist destination. The goal is very ambitious: by 2030, this country wants to attract 70 million international tourists each year.
Across the Gulf region, many types of destinations are attracting more and more foreign tourists. International visitors are attracted by the combination of historical heritage and rapidly developing cities with luxury hotels, giant shopping centers and iconic museums. Major international events also contribute to enhancing the region's image, such as the Formula 1 races, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar or the Expo 2021 in Dubai.
Saudi Arabia also has a special position for Muslims. The two holy cities of Mecca and Medina welcome millions of pilgrims each year - which have long been the pillar of religious tourism in this country and are now supporting the goal of expanding tourism development.
Risk of tour cancellation increases
War in the Middle East is seen as a major obstacle to efforts to promote tourism in the region. As tourism warnings increase, the tourism industry is preparing to face a wave of scheduling changes and flight cancellations.
According to Professor Hopfinger, the security situation in the Middle East has never been truly stable. For decades, this region has continuously witnessed major conflicts, mainly between Israel and Arab countries. In the near future, tourists predict that demand may shift to more familiar resorts, especially in the Mediterranean region.
According to Mr. Martin Lohmann, an expert from the Vacation and Tourism Research Association, the recovery rate of international tourism in affected countries after the situation stabilizes will depend on many factors. If security risks are eliminated, infrastructure remains intact and important attractions are preserved, tourism can recover in just a few weeks.
That is entirely possible in the United Arab Emirates," he said.
In the immediate future, the top priority is still to evacuate stranded tourists. Travel companies are looking for ways to get passengers out of the area as quickly as possible and some flights have taken off in recent days. However, due to the volatile situation, it may take a few more days before all tourists return home safely.
