“A Dubai Invite” programme seeks to strengthen tourism amid regional travel uncertainty; Indian visitors could play an important role
DUBAI, July 30 2026 — Dubai has introduced a tourism-promotion programme that rewards eligible UAE residents and citizens when relatives or friends from abroad visit the emirate.
The initiative, called “A Dubai Invite,” has been launched by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. It allows participating residents to receive packages containing hotel, restaurant, transportation, attraction and lifestyle offers with a combined advertised value exceeding 3,000 UAE dirhams, or approximately US$816.
The programme comes as Dubai’s tourism and aviation industries attempt to recover from disruption and reduced traveller confidence associated with the continuing U.S.–Iran conflict. Regional airspace closures, cancelled flights and security concerns have affected visitor demand across the Gulf.
Dubai authorities describe the programme as a city-ambassador initiative designed to encourage residents to promote the emirate among their personal networks. The department says the campaign took almost a year to develop with public- and private-sector partners, meaning it was not necessarily created solely in response to the conflict.
Who can participate?
Applicants must:
Be UAE citizens or residents aged 18 or older.
Hold a valid Emirates ID.
Nominate a relative or friend who does not live in the UAE.
Register the visitor before the person arrives in Dubai.
Ensure that the guest enters on a valid tourist visa or qualifies for a visa on arrival.
Visitors may enter Dubai by air, road or sea between July 20 and October 31, 2026.
A resident can enter the details of as many as five guests in one application and submit additional nominations separately. However, each eligible resident can receive a maximum of three reward packages during the campaign.
Each visitor can be nominated only once. If another resident has already registered the same guest, a subsequent application will not qualify.
Benefits are not a cash payment
The reward’s Dh3,000-plus value represents the combined listed value of discounts, complimentary experiences and promotional offers. It is not a direct cash deposit, salary or government payment.
Participating businesses include hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, transportation companies and lifestyle-service providers. Reported partners include W Dubai Mina Seyahi, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Careem and Hala.
Once a nominated visitor’s arrival has been verified, the resident is expected to receive an email containing the reward package and redemption instructions. Benefits will generally remain valid until December 31, 2026, although individual offers may have separate conditions.
The programme does not provide or guarantee a visa. International visitors remain responsible for satisfying the UAE’s entry requirements.
Strong initial response
Dubai’s tourism department said the programme received more than 10,000 applications during its first 48 hours. Officials are reportedly reviewing the number of available reward packages following the strong response.
The campaign could be particularly relevant to Indian families. India was Dubai International Airport’s largest international passenger market in 2025, accounting for close to 12 million travellers. The airport handled more than 95 million passengers overall that year.
Why it matters: The initiative demonstrates how Dubai is using residents’ overseas family and social networks to support tourism. It may encourage additional visits from India and other major markets, but the benefits should not be confused with cash assistance or a visa-sponsorship programme.
