Dubai is gearing up for a busy summer schedule of events

Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Issam Kazim, confirmed that events will remain one of the biggest drivers of tourism in the city, as Dubai prepares for a busy summer schedule of events and promotions.

He added that the way Dubai dealt with the recent regional unrest reflected an integrated model of crisis management based on flexibility, speed of decision-making, and continuous coordination between government agencies and the private sector, while maintaining business continuity, ensuring community security and economic stability.

Kazim said – during the first regular meeting of 2026 with the partners of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai – that the foundations upon which Dubai was founded remained firm, foremost of which is the partnership between the government and private sectors, indicating that flexibility has become an essential element in the way Dubai works, as the city quickly succeeded in unifying efforts and working as one team, while keeping the safety and stability of individuals at the forefront of priorities.

He added that this partnership has been tested repeatedly over the past years, but it has proven its effectiveness every time, pointing out that Dubai has developed a continuous ability to learn from crises and transform the lessons learned into part of daily practices, which has strengthened the confidence of institutions and individuals in their ability to adapt to changes.

Kazem stated that flexibility was the most important element during the last stage, noting that the various government agencies and economic institutions worked collectively to ensure business continuity and invest every available opportunity to maintain economic activity. He explained that the first thing the city focused on was ensuring rapid and effective communication between the various agencies, so that the focus remains directed towards individuals, their safety and stability.

Kazim said that the meetings with stakeholders began from the first moments, with the aim of understanding the challenges presented and responding to them immediately, pointing out that various governmental and economic agencies intensified their meetings with stakeholders and partners on an ongoing basis to understand their needs, and work to find quick solutions that ensure the continuation of economic activity and reduce the impact of regional variables.

He added that Dubai continues to focus on the main indicators that are constantly confirmed in periodic meetings with partners, which are increasing the number of visitors, raising spending levels, and enhancing repeat visits, in addition to a more comprehensive goal of consolidating Dubai’s position as the best city to work, live and invest. Kazim stressed that events will remain one of the biggest drivers of tourism in the city, as Dubai prepares for a busy summer schedule of events and promotions.

Kazim pointed out that the emirate also continued its external presence during this period, as it participated with its partners in major international events and exhibitions, in a clear message confirming the continuation of business and economic openness.

He stated that Dubai was quick to launch successive economic support packages during the crisis, as in March, economic facilities worth one billion dirhams were approved to enhance readiness, flexibility, and rapid response to changes, and included multiple economic sectors and capabilities supporting economic activity, while in May, a second package worth 1.5 billion dirhams was approved, targeting vital economic sectors.

He added that ensuring the availability of liquidity for companies and business owners was a major priority, explaining that the support included the sectors of tourism, hospitality, events, retail trade, and small and medium-sized companies, with the aim of maintaining business continuity and preparing for the next stage and accelerating activity.

He pointed out that the lessons that Dubai gained during the global financial crisis in 2008, and then during the “Covid-19” pandemic, helped it deal efficiently with recent developments, noting that the systems and procedures that were previously developed provided great flexibility and ensured the continuity of services and activities.

Kazim stated that international partners in the business sector maintained their connection with Dubai during this period, and were keen to visit the emirate to convey a direct picture of the situation and its stability, explaining that a number of international brands also chose to launch their new products globally from Dubai during this period, considering that this reflects the level of trust that was built through long years of joint work and close relations.

Regarding the public communication file, Kazim explained that combating misleading information was one of the main priorities, pointing to the launch of the “Dubai Info Hub” channel via the “WhatsApp” application, with the aim of providing the public with accurate official information immediately. He said that the number of subscribers to the channel exceeded 95 thousand people within a short period, which provided a reliable platform for disseminating developments and shareable materials with families, friends, and those interested inside and outside the country.

Kazim stated that what impressed him most during the crisis was the interaction of the community itself, explaining that the residents of Dubai, who belong to about 200 different nationalities, played an influential role in conveying the true image of the emirate to the world. He pointed out that the voices of the population have turned into a global communication tool that has contributed to confronting misinformation and providing a realistic account of what is happening on the ground.

He stressed that Dubai continued to host major events without stopping during the crisis, and the emirate also maintained the implementation of infrastructure and urban development projects, including road expansions and future transportation projects, stressing that the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) still represent the main compass for the next stage.

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Hotel readiness

The Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Issam Kazim, said regarding some of the hotels that announced their temporary closure for renovation work, that these facilities have been in service for many years, pointing out that maintaining the high levels of quality that characterize the emirate’s hotels requires continuous maintenance and renovation work.

He added that the hotels, which are currently closed for renovation, had planned to carry out these works at the end of this year or next year, but they decided to take advantage of the current period to advance the date for completion of the improvement and development works.

He explained that the goal is for these hotels to be better prepared and ready for the next stage, considering that this ability to adapt and make flexible operational decisions at different times is one of the things that we have learned and developed over time.

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Emirates Airlines operates 96% of its network to 138 destinations

Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Issam Kazim, praised the coordination that took place between the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, airlines, Dubai Airports, and the concerned authorities, stressing that the ability to manage air traffic and flight movements within a short time reflects a high level of operational readiness.

He stated that the companies “Emirates Airlines” and “Flydubai” continued to work to strengthen the network of destinations and restore operational traffic at a gradual pace. During a presentation, Kazim indicated that “Emirates Airlines” had returned to operating 96% of its network, while “Flydubai” had restored about 80% of its operations. He explained that “Emirates Airlines” currently operates more than 1,300 flights per week from Dubai to 138 destinations in 73 countries, while providing Flydubai operates more than 1,750 flights weekly to more than 100 destinations in 50 countries.