Dubai looks back to normal. Beneath the surface it’s a different story | CNN

Traffic is building in Dubai again, restaurant tables are filling up and flights have largely resumed. On the surface, life in the Gulf’s tourism powerhouse looks close to normal. Beneath it, the city is facing a harder reality — although infrastructure is up and running, confidence hasn’t followed. And now, hotels, airlines and hospitality businesses are working harder than ever to persuade visitors to return. For decades, Dubai has built its global tourism brand on a promise few destinations in the Middle East could match: stability. Even when conflict flared across the region, the emirate remained a luxurious safe haven and efficient global transit point for international visitors. But months after the conflict involving Iran disrupted airspace across the Gulf and brought drone attacks to some of Dubai’s most recognizable landmarks, the city is facing one of the most significant tests in its modern history as it seeks to restore traveler confidence and revive a tourism sector that has long been a cornerstone of its economy. For many residents, everyday life has returned. Drone strikes on the UAE are still occurring sporadically, but the wide-scale alerts of the early con