All they do is worry

A quiet stretch of beach in Dubai on March 19. Tourism in the city has plummeted since the Middle East conflict began. — Katarina Premfors/The New York Times

WHEN the conflict with Iran began in late February, customers hunting for bargains on designer wares stopped coming to the Outlet Mall Dubai and a salesperson named Marjorie was forced to go on leave for a month.

Two weeks later, she said, her furlough was extended until June 1.