Inside Dubai's hidden crisis as tourists flee and luxury hotspots fall silent

Inside Dubai's hidden crisis as tourists flee and luxury hotspots fall silentDubai's luxury image is under strain as empty hotels, falling tourism and regional tensions raise doubts about its future as visitors increasingly turn back to EuropeCommentsNewsEmma Mackenzie Features Writer and Cally Brooks Features Writer11:57, 11 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesEmpty sunbeds have become the norm in Dubai as tensions become hard to ignoreFor years, Dubai has sold itself as the five-star destination for year-round sunshine and tax-free living. But behind the polished social media facade, cracks are beginning to show.‌Flocks of influencers and Brits have been moving to the United Arab Emirates city in recent years, posting themselves sunbathing underneath skyscrapers and shopping in luxury malls. But landmarks like the Burj Al Arab now tell a very different story.‌The sail-shaped icon, long associated with eye-watering opulence, was hit after Iran launched retaliatory strikes. Footage showed the iconic hotel on fire, now seemingly quiet while it repairs the damage. Across Dubai, the signs are becoming harder to ignore.‌READ MORE: Katie Price explains break from Dubai saying 'I've done my bit' visiting LeeREAD MORE: 'I lost £3m on gambling addiction by blowing £30K a night on football matches'View 4 ImagesDubai is struggling to maintain its reputationHotels that once bustled with international visitors now feel eerily quiet. Staff outnumber guests in some five-star resorts, while shops in vast malls sit almost empty.Taxi drivers report dramatic drops in business, with some claiming demand has fallen sharply. In the property sector, estate agents are quietly slashing prices, with luxury apartments once snapped up by foreign investors now lingering on the market.‌Much of the unease stems from instability in the wider region. Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates, has long relied on its reputation as a safe haven in an often volatile part of the world...