UAE hotels turn to short-haul markets to recover business

On October 23, 2026, Skift Feed reported that UAE hotel operators are relying on source markets within five to six hours' flight, such as India, China and Russia, to support their recovery from the most severe impact of the US-Iran war. The report noted that rising airfares continue to deter some long-haul source markets. Saurabh Tiwari, Vice President of IHCL for the Middle East, Maldives and Sri Lanka, said India has become the company's most reliable source market during the crisis due to its accessibility and lower airfares than long-haul destinations. On October 26, Skift Feed reported that after recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, some UAE travelers have become hesitant about outbound travel plans but have not canceled booked trips. Rashida Zahid, Vice President of Operations at UAE travel platform Musafir.com, said new vacation inquiries have declined slightly over the past two weeks, booked customers are still traveling as planned, there are currently no customer cancellations, and the company's bookings remain higher than the same period last year.