Dubai has launched a program offering discounts and bonuses to residents who invite friends and family to the city. The initiative aims to help restore tourist traffic after the war in the region negatively impacted the tourism sector of the United Arab Emirates.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), typically a top tourist destination in the Persian Gulf, has seen its image suffer due to strikes on its territory, caught between Iranian attacks and responses from its American ally. This situation has prompted the country to implement measures to bring tourists back, as the ongoing conflict has adversely affected the tourism industry. On Wednesday, Dubai authorities announced that residents would receive bonuses and discounts of up to 700 euros for inviting their loved ones.
Program “A Dubai Invite”
The Dubai Ministry of Economy and Tourism is launching the program “A Dubai Invite” (“An Invitation to Dubai”) to encourage residents to recommend the city to their relatives and friends and invite them until the end of October. According to a press release from the ministry published on the X platform, participants who attract new travelers from July 20 to October 31 will receive bonuses worth over 3,000 dirhams (approximately 716 euros). These bonuses will include discounts on hotel stays, vouchers for restaurants, and amusement parks. Residents can register their invited guests on a special website to access these offers.
Each year, Dubai welcomes about 19.5 million visitors and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, remaining a favorite vacation spot for celebrities and influencers worldwide. However, the conflict between Iran and the United States, which escalated following Israeli-American strikes on Iran in late February, has undermined the perception of stability in the Persian Gulf. As allies of the United States, these countries frequently become targets for Iranian strikes in retaliation for American bombings.
Impact of the conflict on tourism
At the onset of the war, during the peak winter tourist season, the UAE was significantly impacted by Iranian rockets and drones that struck hotels, including those on the artificial island of The Palm and near the Burj Al Arab complex, leading to an exodus of tourists. Although the country has not experienced new strikes since the escalation of hostilities on July 7, and some tourists returned after the April ceasefire, representatives from the tourism industry report that hotel guests are still primarily local residents.
Summer is typically a low season in the Emirates, where temperatures can soar to 50 degrees Celsius. In May, local authorities allocated 400 million dollars (about 350 million euros) to support businesses in the tourism sector in overcoming the war’s repercussions. This followed an initial aid package of over 236 million euros announced at the end of March.
Source: Libération
