DUBAI OFFERS RESIDENTS £600 TO ATTRACT VISITING FRIENDS

Dubai's department of economy and tourism has launched the Dubai Invite scheme, which pays residents of the United Arab Emirates benefits worth more than 3,000 UAE dirham (approximately £610) when they persuade friends and relatives to visit the emirate. The benefits package includes hotel stays, dining deals and attraction tickets. Each resident is eligible for a maximum of three benefit packages for visitors arriving before 31 October, though benefits can be redeemed until December. Visitors must be non-UAE residents, arrive on a valid tourist visa and can only be nominated once per resident.

The scheme responds to a sharp decline in Dubai's tourism following Iran's February retaliation in the US-Israel conflict, when Iranian missiles and drones struck the Fairmont hotel and Dubai's international airport. The number of airlines operating at Dubai airports has halved since the conflict, as many planes were diverted due to missiles and tourists avoided Middle East routes. Reports indicate massive hotel vacancies and businesses experiencing revenue declines exceeding 50 per cent. Several major hotels have temporarily closed for renovations, whilst others offer discounts of up to 45 per cent and free nights to participate in the government scheme.

Local media reported that within the first 48 hours of launch, the scheme attracted more than 10,000 applications. Dubai welcomed nearly 20 million tourists in 2025 before the conflict began. The initiative reflects government efforts to restore visitor confidence and stabilise the tourism sector during the period of regional tension.