Dubai offers tourists benefits worth £610 as numbers plummet amid Iran war
Dubai has launched a scheme paying residents' family and friends to visit, as tourist numbers collapse following the city's entanglement in the US-Israel war on Iran. The Dubai Invite initiative, run by the department of economy and tourism, aims to counter a sharp downturn in visitors after missile and drone strikes hit the Fairmont hotel and Dubai's international airport in February, undermining the emirate's carefully cultivated image as a safe luxury destination.
Under the scheme, UAE residents can nominate non-resident friends or relatives arriving on a valid tourist visa for a benefits package worth over 3,000 dirham (about £610), covering hotel stays, dining deals and attraction tickets, with each resident allowed up to three nominations for visitors arriving before 31 October. The downturn follows a record year in 2025, when Dubai welcomed almost 20 million tourists, but the number of airlines operating there has since halved, hotels have reported massive vacancies and revenue falls of over 50%, and landmarks such as the Burj Al Arab have brought forward closures for refurbishment. Some businesses are also offering discounts of up to 45% and free nights, and local media reported more than 10,000 applications to the scheme within its first 48 hours.
In short
- Dubai pays residents' guests up to £610 to visit amid tourism slump
- Tourist numbers fell sharply after Iran-Israel war strikes hit Dubai
- Scheme drew over 10,000 applications within 48 hours
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Tourism underpins Dubai's economy, so temporary stabilisation is justified when external conflict causes visitor collapse. The scheme provides cost-effective relief whilst tourists regain confidence in a demonstrably secure destination, and the strong uptake suggests people recognise genuine value in the offer.
The case against
Substantial subsidies address a confidence problem with money rather than solving the underlying cause. If regional conflict continues, vouchers cannot restore tourist confidence, and these resources might be better invested in economic diversification or supporting other sectors affected by the downturn.
Explained simply
Dubai is a Gulf emirate known worldwide for luxury tourism, attracting millions of visitors annually to its high-end hotels, shopping and attractions. The city has become caught up in regional tensions surrounding the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
In February, missile and drone strikes hit Dubai's Fairmont hotel and international airport, causing a sharp decline in tourist numbers and airline flights to the city. Hotels now face massive vacancies and revenues have fallen by over 50%, severely damaging an economy that depends heavily on visitor spending.
Dubai's government has launched the Dubai Invite scheme, which pays residents' relatives and friends to visit by offering benefits worth about £610 per person covering accommodation, dining and attraction tickets. The initiative demonstrates how important tourism is to Dubai's economy and how urgent authorities believe it is to restore visitor numbers following the strikes.
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