UAE's Burj Al Arab to close for 18 months refurbishment after Dubai tourism drop-off
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Wed, 04/15/2026 - 16:09
Number of tourists visiting emirate slumps in the wake of Iranian attacks
United Arab Emirates army helicopters fly past Burj al Arab hotel, in Dubai on 16 January 2026 (Fadel Senna / AFP)
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Dubai's famous Burj Al Arab hotel is to close for 18 months for refurbishments following a drop-off in tourism as a result of Iranian attacks.
In a statement on Tuesday, the hotel's owner Jumeirah said said "long-awaited" work would be carried out in phases over some 18 months, led by Paris-based interior architect Tristan Auer.
The statement did not specifiy whether the sail-shaped hotel would remain open, but a staff member told Reuters it would be closed and was set to offer alternative accommodation in nearby hotels to guests with bookings during the work.
Along with the Burj Al Khalifa and the Palm Islands, the Burj Al Arab is one of the most internationally recognisable buildings in Dubai, but it suffered damage from debris from the interception of an Iranian drone attack in March.
While Jumeirah did not reference the war on Iran in its statement, it is thought that Iran's strikes on the UAE and other Gulf states that host US bases has sparked an exodus of foreign expats and tourists from the region.
Just a month into the conflict, which began when Israel and the US attacked Iran in late February, more than $120bn was reportedly wiped from market capitalisation on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges, while over 18,400 flights were cancelled.
It has damaged the reputation built up by the Gulf state as a stable, safe destination for business and tourists in an often tumultuous region.
Unlike Saudi Arabia and Oman, whose stock markets have risen on the back of higher oil prices, the UAE’s globalised economic model, built on tourism, real estate, logistics and finance, has taken a direct hit.
By 28 March, Iran had launched 398 ballistic missiles, 1,872 drones and 15 cruise missiles at the UAE, making it the most targeted country after its close ally Israel.
While most were intercepted, debris still caused damage in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including at the Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai airport and the Fujairah oil industrial zone.
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