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A sharp slowdown across Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sector is pushing Gulf-based hotel and restaurant workers to look for jobs in Türkiye as businesses struggle with falling visitor numbers, delayed salaries and shrinking revenues, according to the report.
Sector sources say hotels and restaurants across Türkiye have recently been inundated with job applications from workers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar as worsening conditions in the Gulf push thousands of tourism professionals toward the country ahead of the summer season.
Tourism hubs, including Antalya, Bodrum, Marmaris, and Cesme, are reportedly seeing strong demand directed at hotel human resources departments.
Hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues across Gulf states, particularly in Dubai, are grappling with a mix of extreme summer heat, regional geopolitical tensions and the seasonal tourism slowdown, all of which have sharply reduced visitor traffic.
The downturn has pushed many businesses into cost-cutting mode, with companies weighing unpaid leave and layoffs, while some reportedly struggle to keep up with salary payments.
However, Türkiye managed to push back against high prices and difficult regional conditions, with foreign visitor numbers reaching 9.9 million in the first quarter, while March alone brought in 3.2 million arrivals, up 8.2% year-on-year.
As the country continues to hold firm on tourism arrivals, demand has picked up for experienced hospitality workers who speak Arabic and English, especially across luxury hotels.
Turkish tourism operators are also paying closer attention to Gulf-based professionals because of their international work experience, while housekeeping departments are facing similar recruitment demand, Turkish daily Sabah suggested.
Industry professionals said the recent influx marked one of the busiest recruitment periods in recent years.
"We have already transferred two bar managers from Dubai and signed six-month contracts. Many of those arriving are considering staying in Türkiye permanently, not only for the season," a sector source told the newspaper.
Some workers even started new jobs within days of arriving in Türkiye as hotels attempt to close staffing gaps before the peak holiday season, the source added.
The growing labor movement has also fueled interest from restaurant chains exploring expansion opportunities in Türkiye, particularly in Istanbul and Antalya, where discussions around new brands and investments are accelerating.
In 2025, Türkiye hosted 63.9 million domestic and foreign tourists and generated more than $65 billion in tourism revenue, while Antalya alone welcomed 17.1 million visitors.
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