DUBAI,— Dubai’s iconic luxury Burj Al Arab hotel will close for an 18-month renovation, a hotel staff member confirmed Wednesday, marking the first such closure since the property opened in 1999.

The shutdown comes as regional tourism has slowed amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

 Jumeirah, the hotel’s owner, said in a statement Tuesday that renovation work would be carried out in phases across roughly 18 months, led by Paris-based interior architect Tristan Auer.

The company did not state in its statement that the hotel would be closed during the work.

The staff member said guests with existing bookings during the renovation period are being offered rooms at nearby hotels. The closure period remains subject to change, the person said.

The sail-shaped hotel, one of Dubai’s most recognized landmarks and Jumeirah’s flagship property, sustained some damage in early March when debris from an intercepted Iranian drone strike hit its exterior.

The renovation had been long anticipated and is not connected to the March incident, the employee told reporters.

Jumeirah did not link the project to the ongoing conflict in its statement.

The timing is notable. The war has disrupted air travel across the UAE, and luxury hospitality groups have warned of profit pressure as visitor numbers decline.

(With files from Reuters)

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