Dubai has launched a referral programme that rewards UAE residents for inviting overseas friends and family to visit the emirate, with benefits worth up to AED 3,000 available for each successful nomination. The initiative — called A Dubai Invite — is part of a broader push to revive tourism that took a hit following the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict in early 2026 and its impact on the region’s image as a safe travel destination.
The timing reflects a specific challenge Dubai is working through. Iran’s retaliatory strikes following a joint US-Israel attack in February caused widespread concern about the safety of Gulf destinations. Dubai’s infrastructure was targeted, and while Emirati air defences intercepted the majority of incoming missiles and drones, falling debris and the projectiles that evaded interception caused fires and disruption across parts of the city. That sequence of events put a dent in Dubai’s long-cultivated image as a haven insulated from the region’s geopolitical realities — and the Invite scheme is one of several measures aimed at rebuilding visitor confidence.
Dubai’s Plan to Attract Tourists
Under the Dubai Invite programme, UAE residents can nominate overseas friends and family members to visit Dubai and receive a benefits package worth over AED 3,000 if those visitors arrive within the campaign window.
According to the Visit Dubai website, the benefits package can include dining deals, attraction tickets and hotel stays, among other offerings. Each UAE resident is entitled to a maximum of three benefit packages throughout the campaign, covering visitors who arrive before October 31, 2026. Benefits can be redeemed until December, according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
To be eligible, residents must be aged over 18 and hold a valid Emirates ID. Nominated visitors must be non-UAE residents arriving with a valid tourist visa by air, sea or road.
From Nomination to Reward
The process has been designed to be straightforward. A UAE resident nominates a friend or relative by registering their details on the official Visit Dubai portal before the visitor travels — this registration step is important and needs to happen in advance, not after arrival.
Once the visitor travels to Dubai within the campaign window, their arrival is verified automatically through Dubai’s entry systems. No separate claim needs to be filed. The resident then receives their reward package by email, typically within a few days of the visitor’s verified arrival.
One detail worth watching: while visitors must arrive between July 20 and October 31, 2026, residents must register their nominees by September 30. Nominating early rather than waiting until the travel date is the safer approach.
How Dubai’s Plan May Impact Indians
The scheme has particular relevance for Indian travellers and the Indian community in the UAE. India has consistently held the top position in international passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport — the airport handled close to 12 million passengers from India in 2025 alone.
Dubai International Airport processed more than 95 million passengers in total in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 3.1 percent — numbers that reflect the scale of what was at stake when the conflict briefly disrupted regional travel patterns.
Also Read: Dubai Awards Record 237 Hotels With Sustainable Tourism Stamp in 2026
Dubai Locations Hit in US-Iran War
The conflict left a visible mark on several of Dubai’s most recognisable locations, which is part of what the Invite scheme is implicitly working to address.
Dubai International Airport was forced to temporarily close in March 2026 after Iran’s drone attack sparked a fire near the facility. UAE authorities had already begun diverting some flights from the airport, one of the world’s busiest, as the situation developed.
Palm Jumeirah, one of Dubai’s most iconic addresses, experienced fires and property damage. Videos circulating at the time showed smoke and flames outside the Fairmont Hotel, located near the Dubai World Trade Centre. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that an incident in a building on the Palm Jumeirah injured four people.
Burj Al Arab, the sail-shaped hotel that has become synonymous with Dubai luxury, also intercepted drone debris that sparked a minor fire on the outer side of the building.
All major UAE airports are currently open and operational, and the country’s air defences remain active. The physical scars from the conflict period are being addressed alongside the reputational ones — and the Dubai Invite scheme sits firmly in the latter category, using the reach of the UAE’s large resident community to send a message to the world that Dubai is open, welcoming, and worth visiting.