The Middle East’s entertainment sector is confronting a disruption that recalls the early shock of COVID‑19. As the regional conflict continues, Dubai, one of the world’s most visible cultural hubs, has seen tourism slow, live events stall, and independent venues struggle to survive. Globally, the pandemic has already revealed just how fragile the cultural ecosystem can be. According to UNESCO data, cultural and creative industries lost an estimated 750 billion U.S. dollars in value and 10 milli