Dubai offering £600 rewards to residents who convince friends to visit after Iran war saw tourist numbers plummet

Published: 18:52, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 18:54, 23 July 2026 Dubai is incentivising its residents with £600 to convince their family and friends to visit the luxury destination after tourist numbers plummeted amid the US-Iran war. The initiative from the department of economy, dubbed the Dubai Invite scheme,  offers residents of the United Arab Emirates a 'benefits package' worth about £610 (3,000 UAE dirham). This includes hotels, dining deals and attraction tickets.  Visitors must not be UAE residents, have a valid visa and can only be nominated once. Each resident can receive up to three benefit packages for visitors arriving before 31 October, which can be redeemed until December.   The initiative has already received more than 100,000 applications in its first 48 hours, according to local reports.  The US and Israel first launched strikes on Iran on February 28th and tourism across the region has been in freefall ever since. Once a tax-free haven attracting social media stars and countless Brits seeking warm weather and crime-free streets, Dubai's carefully crafted image has been shattered. Dubai is incentivising its residents with £600 to convince their family and friends to visit the luxury destination after tourist numbers plummeted amid the US-Iran war Thousands have fled the war-torn city, vowing to never return as the Islamic Republic sends barrages of missiles and suicide drones at glitzy skyscrapers and glamorous five star hotels. Bustling beaches and bars, usually occupied by British expats including Rio and Kate Ferdinand, Luisa Zissman and Petra Ecclestone, have been abandoned as the exodus from the emirate accelerates. Dubai has been a target for retaliatory Iranian missiles and drones since the US attack in February, having spooked almost any foreigners from coming. The city had been hoping to welcome a record 20 million visitors this year - surpassing last year's 19.59 million incoming tourists. Now, the lost business is estimated to be costing Dubai as much as £450 million a day. Estimates suggest inbound arrivals to the Middle East could now decline 11-27 per cent year-on-year in 2026, even if the conflict resolves quickly.