Dubai is offering residents incentives worth €716 (3,000 AED — the local currency) for each friend or family member they successfully invite to visit the emirate as a tourist and stay there for holidays. The initiative, launched by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, forms part of the city’s broader strategy to boost tourism by turning its own residents into brand ambassadors. The €716 value corresponds to per-person arrivals under the scheme.
How the Program Works
Residents must register their visitors’ details online before arrival — up to five guests per registration. Once those visitors enter Dubai, their arrival is automatically confirmed by authorities, and within approximately 72 hours, the host resident receives a digital rewards package via email.
The campaign runs for visits between 20 July and 31 October 2026. Rewards remain redeemable until 31 December 2026 and include discounts or complimentary stays at hotels, meals at restaurants, tickets to major attractions, and special offers on transport and entertainment services.
Funding comes from a partnership between the government and private businesses across Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sectors — all aiming to increase occupancy and spending during the summer and autumn months.
Context: Tourism Under Pressure
The initiative arrives amid growing challenges for Dubai’s tourism industry. Ongoing regional instability — particularly the war in Iran — has affected travel across the Middle East. In 2025, Dubai welcomed around 19.5 million tourists. According to reports from Agence France-Presse, Dubai’s government disbursed €350 million in May 2024 to support tourism-related businesses impacted by the conflict — following an earlier relief package exceeding €236 million issued at the end of March.