Middle East Conflict Disrupts Retail and Travel
Analysis based on 13 articles · First reported Mar 02, 2026 · Last updated Mar 02, 2026
The escalating conflict in the Middle East has severely disrupted the retail and tourism sectors, particularly for luxury brands. Shares of major luxury groups like LVMH, Hermès, and Richemont have fallen, and companies such as Kering, Apple Inc., H&M, Reckitt, and Amazon have closed stores or suspended operations, indicating significant negative economic consequences for the region and global markets.
An escalating air war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has led to widespread chaos for businesses and travel across major Middle Eastern shopping hubs. Iran is retaliating for bombings that killed its supreme leader and civilians by firing missiles and drones at Gulf states. This conflict has resulted in numerous store closures by international retailers like Chalhoub Group, Kering, Apple Inc., H&M, and Amazon in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Luxury groups, which saw the Middle East as a key growth engine, are particularly affected, with their stock prices declining. The disruption to tourism and retail is estimated to put hundreds of millions of dollars in travel retail sales at risk, potentially impacting luxury sales in Europe as well.
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