Dubai's ₹79,000 tourist referral scheme: What it is and how you can benefit
Dubai has launched a new campaign encouraging residents to invite friends and relatives to visit the emirate after tourism was hit by the recent conflict
Dubai has launched a new campaign encouraging residents to invite friends and relatives to visit the emirate after tourism was hit by the recent conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. The move comes just months after Dubai celebrated a record tourism year, welcoming 19.59 million international visitors in 2025. However, visitor numbers have plunged sharply since the conflict, with hotel occupancy dropping from around 80% to a projected 10% after missile attacks targeted the emirate in March, CNN reported. A 'Dubai Invite' offers rewards worth up to AED 3,000 To attract more tourists, authorities have introduced 'A Dubai Invite', a programme that offers UAE citizens and residents reward packages worth up to AED 3,000 (around ₹78,300) for inviting family members or friends to visit Dubai. The scheme, launched earlier this month, is open to people aged 18 and above who hold a valid Emirates ID. Each participant can nominate up to three guests to travel to Dubai between now and 31 October.
The rewards include hotel stays and dining offers. Also Read | Dubai-Mumbai flight makes emergency landing in Gujarat after smoke detected According to Visit Dubai, nominated visitors must live outside the UAE, hold a valid tourist visa and arrive by air, sea or road. Commenting on the initiative, Noor Al Geziry, AVP, Special Projects & MENA at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), told CNN, "At a time when personal connection and credibility matter more than ever in travel decisions, 'A Dubai Invite' speaks directly to what makes this city enduringly compelling: the people who call it home and who understand it best, and the families and friends they welcome here to experience it for themselves." Many residents have welcomed the programme. YouTuber and beauty editor Lauren O'Connell, who moved from the US to Dubai in 2009, described it as a good idea. Also Read | Should NRIs in Dubai use a UAE foundation for succession planning?
"I think it's a very positive initiative," O'Connell told CNN. She added, "I've invited family members who've been talking about visiting Dubai over the past few years. It gives people who already love living in Dubai an extra reason to encourage friends and family to make the trip." The invitation scheme is part of a wider effort to revive tourism. Dubai has also suspended the nightly hotel tax at higher-end hotels and removed the 7% municipal fee previously charged on hotel and restaurant bills. The city has been working to rebuild its image as a tourist destination after Iran launched missile and drone attacks across the Middle East earlier this year, with Dubai among the targets. Impact of Iran-Israel-US war Although most of the missiles were intercepted, some well-known landmarks were damaged, including the Fairmont The Palm resort and the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab hotel. The Burj Al Arab is currently closed for an 18-month restoration programme.
The BriefWire