DUBAI: Regional turmoil is creating an unexpected boom for Dubai as tourists and businessmen flock once again to the shopping and skyscraper oasis after fleeing just a few years ago in the wake of its spectacular debt debacle.
Visitor numbers are noticeably higher in Dubai's gleaming malls and restaurants, and hotels are ecstatic as rooms fill up and deals are done.
"It has been a windfall, there are 65,500 hotel rooms and apartments in Dubai, and they were all full, there was not a single one available," said Guy Wilkinson, managing partner at Viability Management Consultants, a hospitality consultancy.
"Dubai occupancy has been better, unfortunately, since the unrest started.
It lives a charmed life through big events in the region."
Occupancy rates have surged for hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate since a wave of unrest hit the region.
Hotel occupancy in Dubai increased by 7.9 percent in January compared with the same month in 2010, data from STR Global showed. February data is not yet available.
However, Dubai is still off its peak, when free restaurant tables and taxis were as rare as water in the desert.
The main driver, however temporary, appeared to be business.
"We're seeing a number of clients, particularly among large multinationals, that have moved people and operations to Dubai," said Nabil Issa, Dubai-based partner at law firm King and Spalding.
"The common theme is becoming 'get them out of Bahrain and send them to Dubai for a while'."
Issa said the flow of deals has virtually dried up in Egypt, Bahrain and Oman, prompting banks and other international businesses to switch their attention to Dubai.
"It's become the place to meet with one another and negotiate a deal," said one Bahrain-based public relations executive who had moved operations temporarily to Dubai.
"You'll see the coffee shops at the Dubai International Financial Centre and boardrooms are full with business executives trying to close deals that may have been delayed if they had waited it out in Bahrain."
Clubs and restaurants catering to the financial industry are witnessing an influx of clients from countries affected by unrest.
"There are members from our club in Bahrain who have moved to Dubai temporarily and they are using the club here frequently," said Russell Matcham, chief executive of Capital Club Limited, which runs Dubai's Capital Club.
"We have also seen senior Saudis more in the club recently as Bahrain has been off limits. Interest in membership has increased dramatically and we are getting three or four enquiries per day."
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