Emirates will be empty, hosting opening occasions (6)
I believe the answer is:
events
'occasions' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Social occasions' mean 'events' so perhaps 'occasions' could also mean 'events')
'emirates will be empty hosting opening' is the wordplay.
'will be empty' means to remove the middle letters.
'hosting' indicates putting letters inside.
'opening' becomes 'vent' (vent is a kind of opening**).
'emirates' with its middle taken out is 'es'.
'es' going around 'vent' is 'EVENTS'.
(Other definitions for events that I've seen before include "Noteworthy happenings" , "races?" , "competition" , "Important or notable happenings" , "Things that happen" .)