You know that relative who has been saying “next year, definitely next year” since 2021? Dubai has just handed you a much better argument. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism launched A Dubai Invite on 21 July 2026. It is a city ambassador programme, which is a formal way of saying the emirate will pay you in perks for doing what most residents already do for free: talking your family into visiting. Nominate an overseas guest, have them land in Dubai before 31 October, and you get a benefits package worth more than Dh3,000. Roughly $815. Hotel nights, waterpark tickets, two-for-one mains, cheaper Careems.
Here is exactly how it works, what is actually inside the package, and the fine print that catches people out.
A Dubai Invite: Details at a Glance
- What it is: A DET rewards programme for residents who bring overseas guests to Dubai
- Campaign window: 20 July to 31 October 2026
- Registration closes: 30 September 2026
- Reward value: More than Dh3,000 (around $815) per eligible package
- Who qualifies: UAE citizens and residents aged 18 and above with a valid Emirates ID
- Who you can nominate: Friends and family who live outside the UAE
- Nominations per submission: Up to five
- Maximum packages per resident: Three
- Where to apply: visitdubai.com/en/invite/nomination
- Rewards valid until: 31 December 2026, unless a partner sets its own deadline
What is A Dubai Invite?
Dubai has always run on word of mouth. Around 200 nationalities live here, and most of them have someone back home who has seen the Burj Khalifa on a screen and never in person. A Dubai Invite formalises that. You register your guest before they travel. When they land, DET verifies the arrival through government systems, and a rewards email lands in your inbox.
The guest gets the holiday. You get the perks. That is the whole trade. One thing to be clear about: this is a residents’ programme, not a tourist offer. Your visiting cousin cannot sign up for it from Manila or Manchester. You have to nominate them from this side.
How ‘A Dubai Invite’ works: Step-by-step process?
Step 1: Nominate before they fly
Fill in the nomination form on the Visit Dubai website with your guest’s details. This has to happen before they arrive, not after. You can submit up to five visitors in one go. Hosting a bigger group? Submit another entry.
Step 2: They land in Dubai
Your guest needs to enter the emirate between 20 July and 31 October 2026. Air, sea or road all count, so a drive down from Muscat qualifies the same as a flight into DXB. Verification is automatic. There is nothing to upload, no boarding pass to photograph.
Step 3: Your rewards arrive
Once DET confirms the arrival, you receive an email with your benefits package and redemption instructions. Packages started being issued in August 2026 and typically reach you within 72 hours of your guest landing. Most offers stay valid until 31 December 2026, though individual partners can set earlier cut-offs.
WOW Emirates Expert Tip: Nominate the moment flights are booked. There is no advantage to waiting, and a guest who arrives before you have submitted the form does not qualify retroactively.
Who is eligible?
To take part, you need to tick all of these:
- Be a UAE citizen or resident aged 18 or above
- Hold a valid Emirates ID
- Nominate guests who live outside the UAE
- Your guests must hold a valid tourist or visit visa, or be eligible for visa on arrival
- Guests must arrive between 20 July and 31 October 2026
Two limits worth remembering. Each resident can receive a maximum of three benefit packages across the whole campaign, and each visitor can only be nominated once. If your sister visits twice, only the first trip counts. So, if you are hosting six relatives across three months, you still cap out at three packages. Choose which visits you want the credit for.
What you need before you Start Filling The Form
Have this ready, and the whole thing takes about four minutes:
- Your Emirates ID
- Your date of birth
- Your email address
- Your guest’s expected arrival month
- Your guest’s passport number
- Your guest’s date of birth
- Your guest’s nationality
WOW Emirates Expert Tip: The passport number is the one people stall on. Ask for a photo of the picture page in the same WhatsApp message where you tell them about the offer.
What is actually in the rewards package?
DET says the package is worth more than Dh3,000, and the exact mix can vary. Partners and availability may also change during the campaign. Here is what has been confirmed so far.
Hotels
- Meliá Desert Palm: 45 per cent off rooms, suites and villas, plus a Dh100 spa credit per person and a Dh100 food and beverage credit per stay. The biggest headline discount in the package.
- ME Dubai by Meliá: 35 per cent off the best available rate, a complimentary room upgrade, and children under 12 stay free. The same 35 per cent also applies to the all-day dining restaurant, in-room dining, spa and laundry.
- The Mina Seyahi hotels: Book a stay at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark, W Dubai Mina Seyahi or The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, and you get your room spend credited back to use on restaurants and spa treatments during the stay. On a three-night booking, that is a serious amount of dining money.
- IHG Hotels & Resorts: Pay for two nights at participating properties and get the third free, plus up to 30 per cent off at selected restaurants.
WOW Emirates Expert Tip: The Mina Seyahi credit-back and the IHG third-night-free reward longer stays. If your guests were planning two nights, nudging them to three changes the maths considerably.
Attractions
- Free ticket to Aquaventure World at Atlantis
- Free day out at IMG Worlds of Adventure
- 50 per cent off Grand Hyatt Dubai Waterpark
That is two of the city’s biggest family days out, essentially covered. In July and August, indoor and water-based is the only sensible answer anyway.
Dining
Mostly two-for-one deals:
- Two for one at Papas
- Two for one at The 305
- Two for one on main courses at Asia Asia
- Two mains for the price of one at Lock, Stock & Barrel
Getting around
- 20 per cent off Careem rides
- 20 per cent off Hala taxis booked through Careem
- Savings on rides and extra perks with Careem Plus
Visitors who do not know the Metro tend to default to taxis, and a fortnight of airport runs and Marina dinners adds up fast.
Important Things To Keep in Mind
- Registration closes 30 September, not 31 October: This is the detail most people will miss. Your guest can arrive as late as 31 October, but you must have submitted the nomination by 30 September. A late-October arrival registered in early October does not count.
- Flights, visas and accommodation are not covered: The programme does not arrange or pay for any of it. Your guests sort out their own visas and cover their own travel costs. The rewards go to you, and it is up to you how much of that you pass on.
- Rewards come after arrival, not before: You cannot book the discounted hotel stay in advance and then have your guest fly in. The verification comes first, the offer codes second. Plan accordingly if you want your guests to use a hotel perk during their own trip.
- Partners can change: DET has said the participating hotels, attractions and offers are subject to availability and may be adjusted during the campaign, so check what is in your email rather than assuming the list above is fixed.
If you’re planning a summer trip, make the most of your visit by checking our Dubai Summer Surprises 2026: full guide for the latest shopping, entertainment, and seasonal offers. Families should also explore the Kids Go Free Dubai 2026 campaign for extra savings on hotels and attractions, while international visitors can confirm their entry requirements with our UAE visa on arrival: full list of eligible nationalities. And if you’re looking to turn your trip into a relaxing getaway, don’t miss our roundup of the best hotel staycations in Dubai this summer for top-value stays across the city.
Should you bother?
If you already have guests coming, yes, obviously. It is a form and a passport number for what is effectively free money. If you are on the fence about inviting someone, be honest about the maths. Dh3,000 in perks is real, but it is spread across discounts you only unlock by spending. The IMG and Aquaventure tickets are the cleanest value. The hotel offers only pay off if someone books a hotel.
Where it genuinely helps is the awkward middle case: family who want to come but keep flagging the cost. Two free theme park days and a discounted three-night hotel stay is the sort of thing that turns “maybe next year” into a booking.
A Dubai Invite: FAQs
What is A Dubai Invite?
A Dubai Invite is a rewards programme from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism that gives UAE residents and citizens benefits worth more than Dh3,000 when they nominate overseas friends or family who then visit Dubai between 20 July and 31 October 2026.
Who can apply for A Dubai Invite?
UAE citizens and residents aged 18 or above with a valid Emirates ID. The guests you nominate must live outside the UAE and travel on a valid tourist or visit visa, or be eligible for visa on arrival.
How do I nominate someone?
Complete the nomination form at visitdubai.com/en/invite/nomination before your guest arrives. You will need your Emirates ID, date of birth and email, plus your guest’s passport number, date of birth, nationality and expected arrival month.
When is the deadline for A Dubai Invite?
Registration closes on 30 September 2026. Nominated guests must arrive in Dubai by 31 October 2026 to qualify.
How many people can I nominate?
You can submit up to five visitors in a single entry and make additional submissions after that. However, each resident can receive a maximum of three benefit packages, and each visitor can only be nominated once.
How long does it take to receive the rewards?
Once your guest’s arrival is verified through government systems, the benefits package is emailed to you, usually within 72 hours of arrival.
How long are the rewards valid?
Most benefits can be redeemed until 31 December 2026, unless a specific partner sets a different expiry.
Does A Dubai Invite cover flights, visas or hotels for my guests?
No. Visitors arrange and pay for their own visas, flights and accommodation. The programme only provides the rewards package to the nominating resident.
Images: WOW Emirates Archives
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