Why Malaysia’s push for 15 million Muslim tourists is no sure thing

Malaysia sees an opening in the Gulf travel disruption caused by the Iran war, pitching itself as a Muslim-friendly destination for travellers seeking halal food, prayer facilities and family-focused holidays.

But such gains could be limited because the conflict has not only weakened tourism within the Middle East, but also affected long-haul flight routes that Malaysia depends on to draw Muslim tourists, according to analysts.

The push comes as the six-month-old war continues to disrupt travel across the Gulf, where Dubai and Doha have long served as major destinations and aviation gateways for travellers moving between Europe, Asia and Africa.

“This crisis, this problem … we turn [it] into opportunity,” Mohammad Faisal Abu Suaib Khan, director general of Malaysia’s Islamic Tourism Centre, told This Week in Asia on Thursday.

“When the Middle East shuts down, people still want to travel. They still need an option where they can go,” he said, describing Malaysia as a natural substitute because of its established Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub for international passengers, handled 31.5 million travellers in the first half of this year, down 31.3 per cent from the same period in 2025, according to Dubai Airports. Aircraft movements fell 32.1 per cent over the same period.

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