Emirates has launched a direct service between Dubai and Da Nang, opening Vietnam's central coastal city to affluent travellers from the Middle East and connecting passengers from Europe and the Americas via Dubai's major transit hub.
The new route addresses Da Nang's strategy to diversify beyond traditional markets. As of April 2025, over 13,000 visitors from Middle Eastern countries had visited the city, representing 0.73% of total international arrivals, primarily from Iran, Israel and Turkey. Officials expect this figure to rise significantly with the Emirates connection.
Da Nang has been expanding into new markets, with charter flights already operating from Kazakhstan's Astana and Almaty (seven airlines offering 10 weekly flights from April to October 2025), plus a weekly service from Tashkent, Uzbekistan via Centrum-Air Airways.
The city offers 1,290 tourist accommodations, including 111 four and five-star hotels. International brands such as InterContinental, Hyatt, Sheraton and Marriott cater to upmarket visitors. Key attractions include Sun World Ba Na Hills with its Golden Bridge, plus three international-standard golf courses, including Ba Na Hills Golf Club, designed by Luke Donald.
To serve Muslim travellers, Da Nang has embraced halal tourism with nearly 30 restaurants offering halal-certified or Muslim-friendly cuisine.
This new air route is not only a catalyst for tourism growth but also a gateway for expanding trade, investment and cultural cooperation, said Truong Thi Hong Hanh, director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.