Dubai pays $815 bonuses to residents who draw friends as tourists

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Dubai pays $815 bonuses to residents who draw friends as tourists

July 24, 2026

DUBAI,— Dubai’s tourism authority has launched a cash-incentive program urging residents to bring family and friends to the emirate, as visitor numbers slide following the region’s involvement in the US-Israel war on Iran.

The Dubai Invite program, run by the Department of Economy and Tourism, lets UAE residents nominate visitors from abroad.

Those who successfully bring in guests can receive a benefits package worth more than 3,000 UAE dirham, or roughly $815, according to Visit Dubai’s website.

The package includes hotel stays, dining discounts and tickets to local attractions.

Under the program’s rules, each resident may claim up to three benefit packages for guests arriving before October 31, though the rewards themselves can be used through December.

To qualify, guests cannot be current UAE residents, need a legitimate tourist visa for entry, and each individual can appear on only one nomination.

The initiative follows a steep drop in international arrivals after Gulf states were pulled into the war between the US, Israel and Iran.

In February 2026, Iranian missile and drone strikes struck the Fairmont hotel and Dubai’s international airport, undercutting the city’s longtime image as a secure luxury destination for wealthy travelers and social media influencers.

Dubai had recorded nearly 20 million visitors in 2025, a high point. Since the conflict began, the number of airlines flying into Dubai has dropped by half, with several flights turned back due to missile threats and travelers steering clear of Middle East flight paths.

Hotels across the city are reporting high vacancy rates, and some businesses say revenue has dropped by more than half.

Several well-known hotels have closed altogether, with some, including the Burj Al Arab, moving up planned renovations; that hotel will shut for 18 months for major restoration work.

Other hotels are supporting the new government program by offering discounts of up to 45 percent and free additional nights.

Local media reported Thursday that the initiative drew more than 10,000 applications within its first 48 hours.

Some experts, however, warn that artificially boosting Dubai’s image could backfire.

(With files from The Guardian, Agencies)