‘There is no change to our business model’, Tim Clark said Friday. The President of Emirates Airline has said something most of us have been thinking for quite some time. Has Dubai lost its tourism appeal? Is Dubai soon getting replaced by other tourism giants? It is alright if you had been having these questions.
The Middle East crisis brought a lot of flight disruptions. Dozens of Dubai flights got cancelled and airlines had to sustain a lot of losses. But the crisis also highlighted one thing – Dubai’s resiliency. Starting from its leadership and authorities to Emirates flights and Dubai International Airport (DXB), all things came together in perfect harmony. Emirates has been quite quick in resuming its operations, letting stranded tourists get back home and residents abroad return to Dubai as soon as possible.
This month, Emirates is operating more than 100 flights per day, reconnecting Dubai to different destinations across the globe. Of course, the airline is yet to reach its full operational capacity. But on the current page, it does not seem like Emirates is going to take much longer to get back to its glorious times.
But getting back to its original schedule is not the only important thing here. Emirates also needs to maintain its position as one of the most profitable airlines globally. Can it do that, despite the Middle East crisis bringing almost a couple of months of disruptions? It certainly can, as per our opinion. But let us also hear it from the experts in the tourism industry. Understand the state of Dubai tourism in 2026 and the role Emirates is going to play in all of this. Our insights are backed by reliable stats, so you get your hands on authentic data only.
Emirates Operating at ‘65% of Full Capacity’
This has been fast. In his recent statement, Mr Clark said: ‘Emirates is currently operating at around 65% of its full capacity’. This is quite impressive, to be honest, considering that the Middle East crisis brought flights to a literal standstill for quite some time. For a large part of this month, the Dubai-based airline has been operating flights to more than 100 destinations across the globe, including India, China, Bangladesh, UK, the US, Saudi Arabia and more.
Just Head To: emirates.com/english/book/flight-schedules
Emirates has already started operating flights to Accra in Ghana, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram in India, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Bali in Indonesia, Bangkok in Thailand, Barcelona in Spain, Beijing and Shenzhen in Mainland China, Belem in Brazil, Birmingham in the UK, Bologna in Italy, Brno in the Czech Republic, Cairo in Egypt, Calgary in Canada, Dakar in Senegal, Dallas and Denver in the US, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Vienna and Graz in Austria, Hanoi in Vietnam, Heraklion in Greece, Karachi in Pakistan, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Paris in France, Porto in Portugal, and more. This is not the complete list, of course.
How did Emirates perform on Flightradar24 Recovery Index?
Incredible, actually. From 28 February until earlier this month, Gulf airlines had to endure a series of challenges, such as ‘airspace closures, direct attacks on airport infrastructure, and a collapse in demand to the region’. But through these challenges, Emirates flourished. Flightradar24 has reliable numbers to justify this.
For example, on 23 February 2026, Emirates had 517 flights in operation. This number came to 224 on 28 February, 24 on 1 March, 136 on 4 March, 343 on 14 March, 368 on 20 March, 386 on 31 March, 379 on 1 April, 390 on 8 April, and 410 on 23 April 2026.
If you take a look at the graph, you can see the progress Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia and flydubai have made in the past couple of months. Just as Mr Clark has noted in his recent statement, Emirates has already started operating at around 65% of its full capacity. The airline is definitely seeing strong travel demand and could be reaching its original schedule sooner than later, if the current page is maintained or enhanced. Because of the strength of the Emirates brand, the airline is going to quickly regain its market share.
‘Dubai is Safe and Stable’: Issam Kazim Shares ‘Reality’
Instead of sensationalised discussions online, let us hear about the ‘reality of the situation’ from Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing. Since the situation in the Middle East has been changing dramatically on some days, Mr Kazim has shared a ‘clear and accurate update’ about Dubai ‘from the ground’. It is important to pay attention to his statements, especially if you are planning to travel to Dubai in the near future but are a little bit hesitant because of the circumstances.
From Issam Kazim’s clip, it is evident that:
1. The safety of all residents and visitors is the top priority of Dubai.
2. Federal and local authorities continue to take extensive measures to keep the population informed and safe.
3. Dubai has strong, established systems to manage global disruptions.
4. Dubai is safe and stable, and daily life is continuing.
6. Hotels, restaurants, retail and transportation facilities are open.
7. There have been some flight disruptions because of the geopolitical scene, but operations have been scaling back up – spearheaded by Emirates and flydubai.
8. Dubai is confident in a sound and full recovery.
9. Dubai’s historic model of openness has shaped its resilience. The city is expected to continue to lure in both first-time and repeat visitors from across the globe.
Strong Travel Demand Keeping Dubai Tourism Resilient
In his statement, Tim Clark from Emirates Airline highlighted that: ‘Demand for travel remains strong, supporting a rapid recovery and enabling us to absorb rising costs’. It definitely appears to be true. In late February and early March, a lot of uncertainty about the situation in Dubai must have led to a reduction in people’s interest. But this fall did not stay long as by this month, people from across the globe have again started looking for the visas and other procedures to make their Dubai trip a success.
This highlights one key thing: people’s trust in Dubai. Tourists in Dubai find the place reliable. For this reason, the city has been getting a huge number of first-time tourists and repeat travellers each year. Is this year going to be any different? Not necessarily.
Can Emirates Regain Its Market Share Quickly?
There is no need to speculate at this stage. From Flightradar24’s data, it is already clear that Emirates is recovering fast. From 517 flights on 23 February to just 24 on 1 March 2026, the Middle East crisis definitely took a toll on one of the largest international airlines. But Emirates has been quite quick in its recovery. From less than 25 flights in operation on the first day of March to 410 on 23 April 2026, the numbers definitely point to an optimistic turn.
Emirates is ‘confident of emerging stronger’, as Mr Clark said in his recent statement. Currently operating at 65% of its full capacity, the airline is expected to make a quick recovery to its original schedule. Plus, Emirates is also confident in maintaining its position as one of the most profitable airlines globally.
This is not an overestimation as Emirates continues to prove itself day in and day out. It is one of the most reliable airlines in the Middle East. Soon after the crisis broke out, the airline released frequent updates on its social media pages about refund, rebooking and cancellations policies. The airline has been abiding by some of the strictest industry standards to make sure that your experience is as safe as it is comfortable.
‘Most Profitable Airline’: Emirates has Proved Itself
Late last year, the Emirates Group announced a record half-year financial performance. Emirates maintained its position as the most profitable airline globally as the Group posted a profit before tax of AED 12.2 billion (US$ 3.3 billion) for the first six months of 2025-26. Some calculations later, the Group’s profit after tax is AED 10.6 billion, up 13% from last year.
Isn’t it incredible? During the first half of 2025-26, Emirates launched flights from Dubai to Danang, Siem Reap, Shenzhen and Hangzhou. On 30 September 2025, Emirates’ passenger and cargo spanned 153 airports in 81 countries and territories. But that’s not all. Emirates increased flights on certain routes and also embraced multiple codeshare and interline partnerships. On the ground, ‘Emirates First’ opened at Dubai International (DXB). Basically, the airline has been leaving no stone unturned in ensuring greater connectivity, flexibility and comfort for its customers. These efforts also help it earn greater profits.
Despite the Middle East crisis for almost a couple of months in 2026, Emirates made strong announcements to ensure it maintains its position as one of the most profitable and reliable airlines out there. Simultaneously, it has also been doing great on the humanitarian front. You can take a look at the screenshots included in this section for a better idea of all that Emirates has been doing in its recovery period, and more.
Dubai Travel Advisory: Is it Safe to Travel to Dubai Today?
‘Dubai remains stable’, as per Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). If you are looking for the latest update on the Dubai travel advisory, here are some things you need to understand. Public services are functioning, airline schedules are currently operating at a reduced level, the city remains stable and authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
Basically, pay attention to your country’s travel advisory for Dubai and book your ride. Because of the Middle East crisis, many people may be hesitant about travelling to Dubai in the near future. Instead of letting the anxiety get to you, you can look at your country’s and Dubai’s official guidelines and if all things fall in their perfect spots, get your itinerary planned, flight tickets booked and visa application submitted as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that Dubai is ready to handle all sorts of disruptions, like the recent one. Therefore, you do not need to be extremely concerned.
Dubai has been one of the most stable and safest cities out there and its record is going to stay the same for a long time. Take a look at some of the country’s travel advisories for Dubai as things start to change and the city starts to make a recovery.
One thing is clear: Dubai is safe and stable. There is one more thing that is also clear to us: Emirates is going to make a faster recovery. So far, it has already reached 65% of its full capacity. If the current pace is maintained or enhanced, the airline is going to get back to its original schedule sooner than expected.
Since the things Emirates has been doing are responding it its favour, the airline is also not going to change its business model. You are rest assured, your journey on Emirates is going to be as comfortable and safe as you must have heard already from previous customers. Since the demand for Dubai tourism remains strong, the Emirate is going to make a full recovery and record better numbers than seen before soon.
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