Dubai has closed registration for its popular “A Dubai Invite” tourism programme after receiving more than 90,000 applications from residents. The strong response to the initiative, launched less than two months ago, prompted organisers and participating businesses to significantly expand the number of benefit packages available to successful applicants.
Introduced by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) on July 20, the campaign was designed to encourage people living in the emirate to invite relatives and friends from overseas. Instead of relying solely on conventional destination marketing, the programme turned Dubai’s international resident community into a network of local ambassadors able to introduce visitors to the city through personal recommendations and shared experiences.
According to Gulf News, more than 30,000 benefit packages have already been distributed since the programme began. Demand proved substantially higher than initially expected, leading DET and its partners to increase the number of packages by more than three times.
Registered Visitors Still Have Time to Arrive
The closure of registration does not mean the programme has ended completely. Residents who successfully registered their guests before the available allocation was exhausted can still receive benefits, provided the visitors comply with the campaign’s eligibility requirements.
Registered guests can arrive directly in Dubai from outside the UAE until October 31, 2026. Their entry will be confirmed through a unified verification procedure supported by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. Once an eligible visitor’s arrival has been verified, the corresponding benefit package is expected to be issued within 72 hours.
The incentives can then be used at participating locations through December 31, 2026. This gives visitors arriving during the final weeks of the campaign additional time to take advantage of the available hospitality, leisure and dining offers.
The scale of participation also highlights the importance of the visiting friends and relatives, or VFR, segment to Dubai’s tourism industry. With people from close to 200 nationalities living in the emirate, the city has an unusually large community capable of influencing travel decisions among relatives, friends and professional networks around the world.
Benefits Cover Hotels, Attractions and Dining
“A Dubai Invite” was developed through cooperation between public authorities and private businesses, with participating companies providing benefits across several parts of Dubai’s tourism economy. The packages cover accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, attractions, transport and other lifestyle experiences.
Hotel partners include W Dubai Mina Seyahi, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark, Meliá Desert Palm and ME Dubai by Meliá. Properties operating under IHG Hotels & Resorts have also participated in the initiative.
Visitors have also been able to access offers connected with major leisure destinations such as Aquaventure Waterpark and IMG Worlds of Adventure. Dining and lifestyle businesses joined the programme as well, broadening the incentives beyond accommodation and giving participating guests more ways to explore the city.
When the campaign was introduced, the combined value of available benefits was promoted at more than AED 3,000. The figure represented the total potential value of discounts and privileges rather than a direct cash payment. Early interest was considerable: more than 10,000 applications were submitted within the first 48 hours, providing an early indication that the original allocation might not be sufficient.
Residents Become Part of Dubai’s Tourism Strategy
The final figure of more than 90,000 applications demonstrates how personal connections can complement Dubai’s broader international tourism campaigns. Rather than treating residents only as consumers within the local hospitality market, the initiative positioned them as active participants in attracting overseas visitors.
DET officials have stressed that recommendations from people who already live in Dubai provide potential tourists with a different perspective on the destination. Friends and relatives can offer first-hand advice about accommodation, attractions, restaurants and everyday life, creating a more personal introduction to the emirate than conventional advertising alone.
The campaign also fits Dubai’s broader focus on strengthening the VFR tourism segment. Encouraging residents to bring family members and friends to the city can generate demand across several industries simultaneously, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, retail and transportation.
The response suggests that this model has significant potential. With the programme’s capacity expanded more than threefold and tens of thousands of packages distributed, “A Dubai Invite” became more than a short-term promotional campaign. It demonstrated how Dubai can use the international reach of its resident population as another channel for attracting visitors and supporting its tourism economy.
Although no new applications are being accepted, the programme will remain active for registered participants over the coming months. Eligible guests have until the end of October to arrive in Dubai, while the benefits associated with successful registrations can be used until the end of December.