Residents can earn Dh3,000 in perks for sponsoring family visit visas under ‘A Dubai Invite’

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is turning residents into city ambassadors with a rewards campaign that dovetails neatly with the emirate’s booming relatives-and-friends visit-visa programme. Under the scheme—branded “A Dubai Invite”—residents who nominate overseas guests arriving between 20 July and 31 October 2026 receive hotel stays, dining vouchers and attraction tickets worth more than Dh3,000 once the visit is verified. A feature article published on July 24 by property adviser DNK Real Estate breaks down how the promotion interacts with GDRFA-issued family visit visas. Crucially, DET’s campaign does not handle immigration paperwork; residents must first sponsor a 30-, 60- or 90-day single- or multi-entry visa through GDRFA Dubai or ensure their guest qualifies for visa-on-arrival. Income thresholds remain AED 4,000 a month for first-degree relatives (parents, spouse, children) and AED 8,000 for siblings or grandparents. Visa processing time averages 48 hours, and guests must enter within 60 days of issuance. Once the visa is in hand, residents submit an online nomination form listing guest details. Airport arrival data automatically triggers the reward package, which can be redeemed at participating hotels such as W Dubai – Mina Seyahi, The Westin and Le Méridien. Each resident can earn up to three packages during the campaign, covering a maximum of five visitors per registration. The offer arrives as GDRFA reports a surge in family-and-friends travel: 29,456 such visit visas were issued in the first half of 2026, while overall entry permits topped five million. For expatriate workers—who make up 88 per cent of Dubai’s population—the rewards offset rising travel costs and encourage longer stays that feed into Dubai’s D33 economic agenda of doubling tourism receipts by 2033. Global mobility managers should note that the campaign could lengthen summer inbound demand. Companies moving assignees should secure hotel inventory early and remind staff that visit-visa holders are capped at 120 days’ stay per calendar year and need valid medical insurance. DET says rewards e-mails will go out within 72 hours of verified arrival, giving hosts plenty of time to plan hotel nights or excursions with their guests.