DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai's usually crowded markets, beaches and waterfront promenades are unusually quiet during what is typically the city’s busy tourism season.
The spillover of the Iran war has disrupted air travel across the Middle East, while Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting sites in the United Arab Emirates have dented the country’s image as one of the region’s safest destinations.
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People enjoy the sunset with the view of the city skyline and Burj Khalifa, at Dubai Creek Harbour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
People walk inside Dubai Mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
Electric scooters are parked on a sidewalk in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
People cross a street in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
A man sits at an outdoor empty cafe in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Afghan men watch as seagulls fly over Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
A man stands beside a flamingo sculpture, as the city skyline with Burj Khalifa is seen in the background at Dubai Creek Harbour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
An abra driver sleeps in his boat along Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Seagulls fly over the beach with the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab hotels in the background in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
People walk past an outdoor empty restaurant at Dubai Creek Harbour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A vendor arranges products inside a shop at the empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Few clients sit amid empty chairs in a cafe at the Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A vendor sits inside a shop at the empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A cat walks at the mostly empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
An ice cream stand sits in empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A man naps on a cafe table at the empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
As a result, some of Dubai’s most popular tourist areas — including the Al Seef waterfront market along Dubai Creek and beaches near luxury hotels, such as the Burj Al Arab — have seen far fewer visitors than usual.
The photographs in this gallery show scenes of near-empty markets, quiet restaurant terraces and sparsely visited beaches as Dubai’s tourism sector feels the ripple effects of the wider regional conflict.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
People enjoy the sunset with the view of the city skyline and Burj Khalifa, at Dubai Creek Harbour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
People walk inside Dubai Mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
Electric scooters are parked on a sidewalk in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
People cross a street in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
A man sits at an outdoor empty cafe in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Afghan men watch as seagulls fly over Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
A man stands beside a flamingo sculpture, as the city skyline with Burj Khalifa is seen in the background at Dubai Creek Harbour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
An abra driver sleeps in his boat along Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Seagulls fly over the beach with the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab hotels in the background in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/ Fatima Shbair)
People walk past an outdoor empty restaurant at Dubai Creek Harbour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A vendor arranges products inside a shop at the empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Few clients sit amid empty chairs in a cafe at the Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A vendor sits inside a shop at the empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A cat walks at the mostly empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
An ice cream stand sits in empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A man naps on a cafe table at the empty Al Seef market, next to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood along Dubai Creek, one of the main tourist areas of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 13, 2026, as tourism slows amid regional tensions linked to the Iran war. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
