What Is 'A Dubai Invite' Scheme? Know Benefits and How To Nominate

UAE residents now have an added incentive to host friends and family from abroad, following the launch of "A Dubai Invite," a major tourism initiative by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

The city ambassador scheme allows eligible residents to unlock exclusive travel, hotel, and dining rewards worth more than Dh3,000 when their overseas guests visit the emirate between July 20 and October 31, 2026. The move is designed to boost summer and early-autumn tourism by leveraging Dubai’s vast expatriate and citizen network to bring international visitors into the city.

Here is everything you need to know about how the scheme works, eligibility requirements, nomination procedures, and the specific benefits available.

How the Dubai Invite Scheme Works

The initiative functions as a digital referral system managed through DET’s official Visit Dubai portal.

The process is designed to be straightforward and automated:

• Host Registration: UAE residents fill out an online form registering their upcoming visitors prior to their travel.

• Guest Arrival: The nominated guest enters Dubai through any official port of entry by October 31.

• Automated Verification: DET automatically verifies the arrival details against registered entry logs.

• Reward Delivery: Within 72 hours of verification, the host resident receives a curated package of discount vouchers, free stay offers, and activity passes via email.

Eligibility Criteria for Hosts and Guests

To participate in the program, both the host and the visiting guests must meet clear criteria outlined by DET:

Host Requirements

• Must be a UAE resident or UAE citizen aged 18 or older.

• Must possess a valid Emirates ID.

Visitor Requirements

• Must reside permanently outside the UAE (non-UAE residents).

• Must enter the UAE on a valid tourist visa or via visa-on-arrival eligibility.

• Must arrive in Dubai between July 20 and October 31, 2026.

• May arrive via air, sea, or land ports.

  Note: The scheme does not provide or facilitate entry visas. Visiting guests remain fully responsible for securing their own travel documents and tourist visas prior to travel.

How to Nominate Your Guests Step-by-Step

Residents planning to host international guests must complete the submission before their guests arrive in the country.

1. Visit the Portal: Go to the official Visit Dubai nomination page.

2. Submit Host Details: Enter your Emirates ID, date of birth, and primary email address.

3. Submit Guest Information: Enter your guest’s full name, date of birth, passport number, nationality, and expected arrival month.

4. Submit Entry: You can nominate up to five visitors per submission. Additional submissions can be made if you are hosting larger groups.

   Important Rule: A visitor can only be nominated once. If multiple residents submit the same visitor's passport details, only the first submission will be deemed eligible for rewards. Each eligible resident can earn a maximum of three reward packages during the campaign period.

Key Benefits and Reward Breakdown

The program offers rewards spanning major hotel chains, theme parks, restaurant concepts, and transit providers across Dubai. Issued rewards remain valid for redemption until December 31, 2026.

Background and Strategic Context

Tourism remains a core pillar of Dubai's economic agenda (D33), which aims to consolidate the city's position among the world's top three global destinations for business and leisure.

While winter remains Dubai's peak travel season, DET has increasingly focused on boosting shoulder-season and summer arrivals. By incentivizing the resident population—which spans more than 200 nationalities—the government aims to drive international visitation through direct word-of-mouth recommendations and family visits.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2026 09:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).