Tourism Crisis in Dubai Leads to Staff Influx to Turkey

The slowdown in the tourism sector in Dubai has led to a surge in staff applications to hotels and restaurants in Turkey. Tourism centers like Antalya and Bodrum are experiencing...

Scraper SystemMay 26, 2026, 02:52 AM

Tourism Crisis in Dubai Leads to Staff Influx to Turkey

Hotels, restaurants, and the entertainment sector in Dubai, one of the world's important tourism centers, are experiencing a slowdown that has directed employees to Turkey. With the start of the summer months, there are sharp declines in tourist numbers due to extreme heat and geopolitical risks in the region. Industry representatives state that some businesses have suffered losses of up to 80% in revenue and delays in salary payments. Contractions in the restaurant and nightlife segments are notable, with many businesses considering options such as unpaid leave and layoffs.
These developments have caused thousands of tourism professionals working in the Gulf region to turn to Turkey. Applications coming from the Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar line especially create a workload in the human resources departments of hotels in Antalya, Bodrum, Marmaris, and Çeşme. Employees in various positions, from chefs to bar managers, housekeeping staff to hotel managers, are trying to be ready for the summer season in Turkey.
While meetings are held with international human resources firms, this is the first time since the pandemic that such intense CV activity is observed in the sector. Due to salary difficulties and downsizing in Dubai, some employees are planning to work permanently in Turkey. Demand is high for experienced personnel who speak Arabic and English in luxury segment hotels. Additionally, new restaurant chain investments targeting the Turkish market are on the agenda, with new brand searches accelerating especially in Istanbul and Antalya.