Since the ongoing conflict in the Middle East kicked off in late February, former travel hubs like Dubai and Doha have all but closed up shop. Even more peripheral destinations like Muscat, the capital of Oman and once a fast-growing travel hub, have all but shuddered its doors to visitors.
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That’s a big deal for any economy that relies on travel, but it’s been catastrophic for countries like Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, which have dumped billions into developing luxury travel markets. They’ve been expecting billions in return, as well, including a planned $100 billion in revenue from Saudi Arabia by 2030.
In short, 2026’s ongoing and unexpected conflicts around the Strait of Hormuz have created serious issues for Arab countries hoping to attract tourists. Worse, many travelers are avoiding airports in Dubai, Doha, and beyond for connections, too.
According to a ground transportation aggregator, Mozio, most Middle Eastern airports are off-limits—but some have actually been getting a boost as travelers avoid cities closer to the conflict. Here’s what we know.
Mozio unveils which Middle Eastern airports travelers are avoiding—and which ones they’re choosing
Mozio recently published a study that interviewed just over one thousand travelers to get a feel for their perceptions on travel to and from the Middle East this year. Travelers must weigh concerns like airport locations, value, and safety as they book trips that head into the Middle East or pass through.
Here’s what the study found.
First, travelers aren’t avoiding the Middle East outright—they’re avoiding specific areas. Specifically, the Gulf is considered a high-hesitation zone, but areas like Istanbul in Turkey are becoming more popular—and even Muscat, Oman has maintained a relatively strong reputation. Some are heading out of the Middle East to North Africa, including Egypt and Morocco.
Second, just under half (48%) of travelers said they were less likely to visit the Middle East this year compared to 2025. And just over one-fourth (26%) of those surveyed said they wouldn’t visit the Middle East at all this year—even for a connecting flight.
In terms of trusted airports, survey respondents said they had the most confidence in Istanbul, followed by Dubai and Cairo, in the UAE and Egypt, respectively. Meanwhile, travelers would avoid airports throughout Kuwait and Bahrain, along with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Lastly, and most interestingly, some travelers are actually using the conflict and those cleared-out hotels to travel to luxury locations for a hefty discount. (You can read the full report via Mozio.)
A surprisingly high 29% of survey respondents said they’re actually speeding up their Middle East travel plans to take advantage of fewer crowds and more favorable hotel rates. That might sound crazy, but it’s an actual travel strategy that many use, often called disaster tourism. The more you know.
