17:19 - 8.04.2026

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April 8, Fineko/abc.az. In a number of Middle Eastern countries, hotel occupancy has dropped to its lowest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic amid the conflict over Iran and disruptions in air travel. The decrease in the number of flights has rapidly reduced the flow of tourists to key cities in the region.

ABC.AZ informs that this is most noticeable in Dubai: hotel occupancy has dropped from more than 80% to 22.8%, the lowest level since 2020. In Bahrain, the tourist flow has fallen by 70%, and the total damage to the tourism industry in the Persian Gulf countries may amount to $34-56 billion.

According to forecasts, the region may miss up to 38 million tourists in 2026. At the same time, destinations less dependent on international flights, such as Jeddah, are showing more stable performance due to domestic and religious tourism.