The UAE government is formally engaging with several Western governments to request the lifting or downgrading of travel advisories issued during the regional tensions of 2025, as Dubai records its highest visitor numbers since the conflict period began. The push comes as Tourism Dubai reports that international arrivals for the January–August 2026 period are running approximately 18% above the same period in 2024.
The Advisory Situation
During the period of elevated regional conflict in 2025, several major source markets - including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia - issued or updated travel advisories for the UAE and the wider Gulf region. The advisories ranged from additional precaution notices to full “exercise a high degree of caution” classifications, depending on the issuing government.
The UAE’s tourism authorities have argued throughout that Dubai and the other emirates remained safe for visitors during this period, pointing to the absence of incidents on UAE soil. The formal diplomatic engagement to seek advisory revision is now backed by visitor number data that the government says demonstrates consumer confidence has already largely returned regardless of the official advisory text.
What the Numbers Show
According to Bloomberg’s reporting on Tourism Dubai data, the emirate received approximately 11.2 million international overnight visitors in the first eight months of 2026 - a figure that, if sustained, would put the full year on course for a record above the 17 million visitors recorded in 2023, the pre-conflict benchmark.
Crucially, the recovery has been led by European markets including the UK, Germany, and France, suggesting that the advisory text has had less practical deterrent effect on consumer behaviour than the government initially feared.
Planning a Trip to the UAE
Our practical guide to the UAE covers the current entry requirements, e-visa process, and any applicable advisory context for travellers from major source markets. For what to do in Dubai and across the Emirates, our things to do guide covers everything from the Burj Khalifa and desert safaris to the cultural sites of Sharjah and the coastal attractions of Ras Al Khaimah. Book tours and activities in Dubai through GetYourGuide for the best availability as visitor numbers rebound.