Why India Is Central to Dubai’s Tourism Growth Strategy

Although the conflict in West Asia disrupted air travel across the region, Dubai is looking ahead. The temporary closure of Dubai International Airport — one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — had a ripple effect on India, which has strong business, tourism and diaspora links with the UAE. Now, as the emirate welcomes visitors once again, Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), explains how they are responding to changing travel behaviour in an exclusive interview with The Hindu.

Dubai has been a popular destination for Indians for decades: have you seen a change in travel patterns after the West Asia conflict began?

Perception is often influenced by headlines, but what ultimately drives travel decisions is confidence in safety, accessibility and value. Amid evolving regional narratives, Dubai remains safe and stable, with public services, hospitality venues and transport networks functioning to the standards our visitors expect from us. In moments of uncertainty, travellers globally tend to shorten booking lead times. That is a natural behavioural response. However, what we are not seeing is a structural decline in travel intent.

Instead, there is a broadening pattern of cautious booking behaviour across several markets, including shorter lead times and a preference for flexibility. This is consistent with global travel behaviour during periods of uncertainty. Our response is not reactive but deliberate: through our data-driven approach, combined with our partnerships and on-the-ground presence across key markets, we continuously track and anticipate shifts in demand, adjusting our proposition and outreach accordingly.

India has long been one of Dubai’s most significant and enduring source markets, a relationship built over decades of deep cultural familiarity, strong connectivity and affinity for the city. In 2025, India remained among the top contributors to international visitation, supported by extensive air links across multiple Indian cities, and a balanced mix of leisure, business and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel.

We expect that relationship to not just continue, but further deepen. The fundamentals that underpin India’s connection with Dubai remain strong: proximity, cultural resonance, a large and well-established diaspora, and a city that genuinely feels like a second home to many Indian travellers.

Amid evolving market conditions, how has Dubai’s tourism sector adapted its strategy to ensure long-term sustainability?

Dubai’s resilience is the result of decisive leadership, long-term planning and institutional coordination. We have a proven track record of bouncing back from challenges such as the global COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis.

The tourism sector and our wider economy entered the current period from a position of strength. In 2025, Dubai welcomed 19.59 million international overnight visitors, marking the third consecutive record-breaking year for international visitation. In the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, GDP grew by 6.4% with annual GDP reaching AED 937 billion. These fundamentals matter because recovery is faster when prevailing demand and economic momentum are strong.

Two economic incentive packages totalling AED 2.5 billion were approved and implemented rapidly, providing targeted support across tourism, hospitality, commerce, logistics and education. The first package of AED 1 billion, introduced in late March 2026, included full deferrals of hotel sales fees, food and beverage charges and the Tourism Dirham for three months. The second package of AED 1.5 billion, approved in May, covers 33 initiatives, extending relief further across nine sectors, including full exemptions from permit and licensing fees for events, exhibitions and conferences through to the end of 2026, and reductions in fees for tour guides and desert safari operators. These measures were designed to protect business liquidity and allow operators to remain focussed on delivering outstanding visitor experiences rather than navigating short-term financial pressures.

Rather than communicating solely through formal channels, leaders have been present in the daily life of the city: engaging with residents at community gatherings, dining at local restaurants, and visiting the public spaces that define Dubai’s character, fostering a sense of shared confidence, solidarity and collective resilience.

Another strength is that we operate through a deeply integrated public-private ecosystem. Aviation, hospitality, retail, logistics and government entities all function in close coordination rather than in isolation. This alignment enables seamless operational continuity.

For example, Emirates had resumed flights to more than 135 destinations as of early June 2026, restoring international connectivity at pace. Most hotels, attractions and retail destinations continued operations, supported by coordinated communication across authorities and industry partners. Transparent, fact-based communication has been equally central to sustaining confidence. In an environment where information travels faster than context, providing clear and consistent guidance through official channels, including the Dubai Info Hub on WhatsApp, has been essential in protecting traveller confidence and preventing misinformation from filling the void.

As you look at the rest of the year, what are your expectations for tourism, and which markets do you see leading the recovery?

Our outlook for the second half of 2026 is grounded in data rather than assumption, and on balance, we are cautiously optimistic.

Dubai’s recovery pattern historically reflects three key strengths: diversified source markets, strong air connectivity and operational readiness across hospitality and events. Those fundamentals remain intact.

Rather than relying on any single geography, Dubai draws from more than 80 source markets globally, and our strategy is calibrated accordingly. Recovery trajectories will naturally vary by region, reflecting differences in local travel sentiment, flight capacity and broader economic conditions. This diversified foundation is precisely what provides structural stability during challenging periods. Our approach is market-by-market, informed by real-time data and close collaboration with airlines and over 3,000 global partners. India will continue to play an important role, given its scale, proximity and strong cultural ties.

From a segment perspective, stopover travellers are likely to be among the first to travel, given their flexibility. Business and MICE travel, supported by Dubai’s world-class events infrastructure, is expected to remain a consistent source of demand: the Dubai World Trade Centre hosted 401 events in 2025 with 2.97 million attendees, underscoring the city’s capacity and global appeal as a meetings destination. At the same time, family travel and VFR segments are expected to remain resilient due to strong diaspora links.

Looking ahead, the second half of 2026 carries a compelling pipeline of events and infrastructure milestones that reinforce Dubai’s forward momentum.

Dubai Summer Surprises returns in July, offering residents and visitors an extensive programme of retail, dining and entertainment experiences, including the Great Dubai Summer Sale and Summer Restaurant Week. In October and November, the Dubai Fitness Challenge celebrates its milestone tenth edition, marking a decade of investment in positioning Dubai as a global destination for wellness and active-lifestyle tourism.

Meanwhile, Dubai’s hospitality sector is ready to scale in line with demand, while airline capacity is expected to adjust as momentum builds, supporting accessibility.

The broader economic environment also supports recovery. Strong real estate transactions, ongoing business licence issuance and continued foreign direct investment indicate that investor and consumer confidence remain intact.

Looking ahead to the longer term, on the infrastructure front, the newly approved Gold Line metro extension will deliver 42 kilometres of underground connectivity across 15 districts, while the Blue Line remains on track for its 2029 debut. The USD35 billion expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, set to become the world’s largest aviation hub, also represents the scale of structural investment anchoring Dubai’s long-term trajectory.

By maintaining operational continuity, protecting business liquidity, and consistently communicating, we are actively building momentum for the remainder of the year and beyond. Our objective under the D33 Agenda is not merely to regain previous volumes, but to build a tourism sector that is more diversified, digitally enabled and sustainability-driven than ever before.