Dubai Police and flydubai have inked a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow passengers landing on the low-cost carrier to purchase the government-backed Esaad Card at a preferential rate, unlocking discounts across 10 lifestyle sectors from restaurants to healthcare. The agreement was signed on 17 September on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market by Lt-Gen Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri and flydubai CCO Hamad Obaidalla. Esaad—roughly translated as “happiness”—is widely used by UAE residents but has been inaccessible to short-term visitors. Extending eligibility to flydubai’s 125-destination passenger base turns the card into a tourism perk and, officials hope, will encourage longer stays and higher in-market spending. For mobility teams relocating staff to Dubai on short assignments, the discounted card offers immediate savings on accommodation, transport, education and leisure until more permanent resident benefits kick in. The MoU also embeds data-sharing protocols between the airline and law-enforcement, enabling faster verification of inbound passenger manifests and supporting risk-based border screening. Dubai Police said the partnership aligns with the emirate’s D33 economic agenda by “placing visitor happiness at the heart of service integration”. It complements GDRFA’s new ‘Click & Travel’ mobile immigration checkpoints, suggesting that government-carrier collaboration is deepening beyond pure security into experience design. Flydubai, for its part, gains a brand differentiator in the crowded Gulf low-cost market and an ancillary-revenue stream from card sales. The carrier told media that the product will be embedded in its booking flow and mobile wallet by Q4 2026.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
