Residents become eligible for hotel, dining and attraction discounts when nominated visitors arrive.
Dubai: More than 10,000 UAE residents applied within the first 48 hours for Dubai’s visitor rewards programme, which offers over Dh3,000 in hotel, dining, attraction and transport deals.
The overwhelming response has prompted the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism to consider increasing the limited number of benefits available under the Dubai Invite programme.
UAE residents and citizens can nominate friends and relatives planning to visit Dubai between July 20 and October 31. Once the nominated guests arrive in the emirate, the rewards are unlocked for the applicant.
Noor Algeziry, Associate Vice President for MENA and Special Projects at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), told Dubai Eye’s Business Breakfast that a single application can include one or multiple guests.
The programme received more than 10,000 applications within its first 48 hours, highlighting the strong engagement of Dubai’s resident community, Algeziry said.
Benefits may be expanded amid high demand
The Dubai Invite programme currently has a limited number of rewards available, but the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is reviewing whether to increase the allocation following the overwhelming response.
“We do have a limited stock of benefits, but given the exceptional level of engagement, we may consider revising that. Discussions are currently underway,” Algeziry said.
Dubai Invite is part of DET’s City Ambassadors programme, which encourages residents to showcase Dubai to their friends and family members living abroad.
“The objective is to recognise and reward our residents, who are among the city’s strongest advocates and ambassadors,” Algeziry said.
The initiative comes after nearly a year of collaboration between DET and its public and private-sector partners. The rewards are designed to provide residents and their visiting guests with more opportunities to explore and enjoy Dubai together.
How residents can unlock the rewards
To qualify, UAE residents and citizens must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Emirates ID.
Residents can nominate up to five visitors in a single application, with additional guests allowed through separate submissions.
The nominated visitor must either hold a tourist visa or be eligible for a visa on arrival and must not already be a UAE resident.
Visitors can arrive in Dubai by air, land or sea during the campaign period. However, the programme does not include visa issuance or visa-related arrangements.
DET will automatically confirm the guest’s arrival, so residents are not required to provide any additional notification after their nominated visitor enters Dubai.
“The resident will unlock the benefits once their nominated visitor arrives in Dubai,” Algeziry said.
After the visitor’s arrival is verified, the reward package and redemption details will be sent via email. DET said that, from August onwards, these emails will be issued within 72 hours of confirmation.
Each visitor can only be nominated once, meaning a separate application will not be eligible if the same guest has already been registered by another resident.
During the campaign period, residents can receive a maximum of three reward packages.
Rewards include hotel stays, dining and attraction offers
Each qualifying reward package includes benefits worth more than Dh3,000, covering hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, transport services and lifestyle experiences.
Participating partners include W Dubai Mina Seyahi, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Waterpark, Meliá Desert Palm, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Careem and Hala.
The programme also features offers from attractions such as Aquaventure and IMG Worlds of Adventure, along with hospitality venues operated by Solution Leisure Group.
The benefits will be valid until December 31, unless specific terms and conditions apply to individual offers.
The Dh3,000 value represents the combined worth of the available offers and is not provided as cash or credited directly to any account.
Dubai Invite may return in the future
The Dubai Invite programme will continue accepting eligible visitor arrivals until October 31, with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) considering the possibility of relaunching the initiative after the current campaign concludes.
Algeziry said the strong response from residents highlighted the appeal of the programme and could pave the way for similar initiatives in the future.
“This particular initiative concludes on October 31. We may bring it back in the future and explore what more we can create around it,” she said.
