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Middle East Tense Despite Ramadan's End, War Continues Amid Holidays
Ramadan Ends, But Eid al-Fitr Holiday Sees Continued Conflict in Middle East
With the end of Ramadan, the Middle East has entered the Eid al-Fitr holiday period, one of Islam's most significant festivals. In Oman, families gathered in parks that were empty just yesterday to share meals, presenting a peaceful facade. However, the overall atmosphere is markedly different from previous years. Traditionally, holidays bring a cessation of hostilities, but this custom is being ignored amid rising tensions.
Escalating Middle East Tensions Impact Travel and Tourism
Currently, the Middle East is experiencing heightened military tension between Israel and Iran, with missile alerts and shellings continuing even during the holiday. This situation has severely impacted the region's travel and tourism industries. Both Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have restricted large-scale events and outdoor prayers. Mohamed Shahid, a manager at a marine tourism company in Oman, stated that despite it being the peak season, war-related cancellations have led to a lack of tourists. Even the popular boat route to the Musandam Peninsula in the Strait of Hormuz has been suspended due to the conflict. Reduced flight options are also making intra-Middle East travel difficult, as exemplified by a Korean family who had to change their travel plans to Oman due to flight cancellations.
Persistent Fighting Pushes Patience to its Limits
While Pakistan and Afghanistan, recently engaged in fierce clashes, have agreed to a holiday truce, there is a growing sentiment that the patience of Gulf countries has reached its limit. Historically, countries like Sudan would halt hostile activities during Islamic holidays. However, today, a missile alert sounded in Dubai, UAE, and yesterday, shelling continued at an oil facility in Saudi Arabia, indicating a volatile situation. This ongoing instability is causing increasing anxiety across the Middle East, raising concerns about future regional developments.
*Source: YouTube: KBS News (2026-03-20)*
