Dubai City Ambassador Program offers rewards worth ₹79,000 for inviting friends, family

Dubai offers residents benefits worth more than ₹79,000 (Dh3,000) for inviting friends and family from overseas to visit the emirate, reports Gulf News. Rewards include hotel stays, dining deals, attraction and lifestyle tickets and are available until December 31, 2026.

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched a new city ambassador program called the “Dubai Initiative” that rewards residents and UAE nationals for encouraging friends and relatives living abroad to visit Dubai.

All about the City Ambassador program

Residents whose guests arrive between 20 July and 31 October 2026 can unlock over Dh3,000 worth of rewards (approx. ₹79,000). These include free hotel stays, dining experiences, attraction tickets and lifestyle offers.

To participate, eligible residents must register details of their visiting friends or family via the scheme’s online nomination form prior to arrival. Entrants may nominate up to five visitors at a time, with additional nominations permitted via separate posts.

Once visitors arrive in Dubai, their entry will be automatically verified. Residents will then receive an email containing a rewards package and instructions on how to claim benefits.

The program is open to UAE residents and citizens aged 18 and above who hold a valid Emirates ID. Eligible visitors must not be UAE residents and should be traveling on either a valid tourist visa or be eligible for a visa on arrival. They must also arrive in Dubai between 20 July and 31 October 2026 by air, sea or road.

Rewards include exclusive offers on hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and lifestyle services. Participating brands include W Dubai Mina Seyahi, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark, Meliá Desert Palm, Careem, Hala, IHG Hotels & Resorts and The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi.

Each Eligible Resident can claim up to 3 reward packs during the campaign. Unless otherwise stated, all rewards must be redeemed by December 31, 2026.