Dubai’s Cool Season Pitch

Dubai is reopening its outdoor season and touring Canada next week. Canadian advisors pitching it must also present an elevated travel advisory and a recovery still under way.

Oman HassanOctober 1, 20264 min read

Photograph · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism

Dubai is bringing its winter pitch to Canada. The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) holds its Dubai Canada Roadshow in Toronto on 5 October, Montreal on 6 October and Québec City on 7 October. Its September trade update leads with a reopening outdoor season, new restaurants and a new intercity train. It also links, near the bottom, to a travel advisory page. Canadian advisors pitching Dubai this winter need to cover both: the product and the security situation. That means discussing the advisory with clients up front, not leaving them to find it.

Why the trade show was in September

The update notes that Dubai hosted the 33rd Arabian Travel Market (ATM) from 14 to 17 September, with about 55,000 participants. DET says its hosted-buyer program brought in more than 350 travel professionals from 40 countries. ATM is normally a spring event. The 2026 show was scheduled for 4 to 7 May at Dubai World Trade Centre. Organiser RX Global first moved it to 17 to 20 August, citing regional uncertainty, then to September after consulting exhibitors, Gulf Business reported in May. The National described the cause directly: the show was postponed because of the war involving Iran, which by September had entered its seventh month.

The security context

The conflict began on 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Iran then targeted Gulf states that host US forces, according to Al Jazeera. The UAE has been among the most frequent targets. On 16 March, a drone strike started a fire at a fuel tank next to Dubai International Airport, and Dubai’s civil aviation authority suspended flights as a precaution. A US–Iran memorandum of understanding in June did not hold: strikes resumed from 8 July, according to a 10 September summary by the travel platform Wego. On 31 August, the UAE said it had intercepted a drone over its territorial waters approaching from Iran. Al Jazeera reported that peace talks remained stalled, with the Strait of Hormuz still in dispute.

The official advice reflects that situation. Global Affairs Canada advises Canadians to “exercise a high degree of caution in the United Arab Emirates due to ongoing tensions in the region and the threat of terrorism.” It warns that “drone attacks continue to either reach UAE territory or be intercepted over the country,” and that regional flare-ups can bring flight cancellations and airspace closures. The US State Department’s advisory, updated 29 August, is at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel,” and cites the ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks.

Wego reported on 10 September that Dubai International, Al Maktoum and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International airports were open and operating scheduled flights. The risk it identified was disruption to individual flights rather than closures.

The recovery numbers

Dubai’s own figures show a recovery that has started but has a long way to go. Dubai welcomed 869,000 international overnight visitors in August, its strongest month since the conflict began, The National reported. Hotel occupancy reached 66 per cent, up from 36 per cent in March. Year-to-date arrivals through August were 6.97 million; the city received 19.59 million visitors in all of 2025. At ATM, officials said Emirates had restored 93 per cent of its pre-war capacity and 98 per cent of its route network.

Dubai visitors, January to August

202512.54 million

20266.97 million

Source: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism · Down 44.4% year on year

For advisors, that gap between this year and last suggests availability this winter will be easier than usual. It also means clients will expect a plan for disruption.

What’s reopening

DET’s update promotes the return of the city’s seasonal outdoor attractions, which close for the summer heat. Published dates:

Dubai Miracle Garden opens its 15th season on 8 October, according to Khaleej Times.
Dubai Safari Park opens Season 8 on 12 October, What’s On reported.
Global Village Season 31 opens 14 October and runs to May 2027, according to reports from The National and Gulf News. Confirm on the venue’s own channels before quoting it to clients.

The update also highlights new and refreshed restaurants without naming them. It also notes the Etihad Rail passenger service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which The National reports began on 30 September. The service makes a two-emirate itinerary much easier to sell.

For advisors

Go to the roadshow with your questions. Toronto (5 October), Montreal (6 October) and Québec City (7 October). Ask DET and the local partners about flexible-rebooking terms, rate protection and what support they offer guests if flights are disrupted. Contact: det_canada@dubaidet.ae.
Put the advisory in the proposal. Include the current Global Affairs Canada wording, and confirm in writing whether the client’s insurance covers trip disruption linked to armed conflict. Check the policy’s war and conflict exclusions.
Sell the season with flexible terms. Outdoor attractions reopen 8 to 14 October. Pitch the winter to repeat Dubai visitors and families who know the city, and favour refundable or changeable rates.
Add Abu Dhabi by rail. The new Dubai–Abu Dhabi service makes a two-city stay simple without a car transfer. See our Insider brief on the train.

Sources

Oman Hassan Markets Editor, Middle East, Africa & Asia

Covers markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia: demand, access and the policy shifts that move them.

Sources are linked above. Spot an error? See our corrections policy.

Why the trade show was in September

The security context

The recovery numbers

What’s reopening

For advisors

Sources

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