Beautiful beaches, record-breaking attractions, and experiences like no other – Dubai is the place to be in 2023. No wonder it’s been named Tripadvisor’s #1 Most Popular Destination in the World for the second year running. Every visit to Dubai promises something new; from record-breaking attractions to fresh surprises for families with Kids-Go-Free deals this summer.
Dubai welcomes 4.67 million overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023
The latest industry results positions Dubai as the fastest recovering destination globally, achieving 98% of pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023.
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, commented: “As we look ahead to further accelerating momentum in our tourism sector, the pillars of sustainability, gastronomy, trade, and technology will form the foundation of our future success. Notably, this year is declared as UAE’s ‘Year of Sustainability,’ marking a major milestone for us, as the city prepares to host COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference. Sustainability will form the core of all that we do, incorporating sustainable practices into every aspect of the visitor experience to advance our journey towards becoming the world’s best city to live and work in.”
Spearheading sustainability initiatives
Sustainability is a core component of Dubai’s development strategy, and the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) initiative is designed to enhance the sustainability of the tourism sector and contribute to broader clean energy and sustainable development objectives.
Dubai is actively focusing on the growth of its hospitality and F&B sector through the Gastronomy Always on Campaign, emphasizing diversity, value for money, authenticity, and experience. The city’s investment in infrastructure and support systems has made it an attractive destination for start-ups, global talent, and entrepreneurs.
The city is committed to offering novel experiences for global travelers, driven by the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which involves expanding tourism attractions by over 100% and increasing diversity in offerings, including ecotourism, food tourism, wellness tourism, cruise tourism, sports tourism, and destination weddings.
Dubai will also continue to provide alternative growth pathways facilitated by reforms and regulatory enablers, including visa initiatives like the Golden Visa, 5-year Multi Entry Visa, Virtual Working, and Retire in the Dubai programs that have eased barriers to entry, promoted long-term affiliation with the city and further enhanced its position as a global liveability hub. Home to over 200 nationalities, Dubai also provides parents with a choice of quality education for their children with many top-ranking international universities having established their campuses in the city. These initiatives have also strengthened Dubai’s pro-business environment, making it an attractive destination for multinationals, family offices, global talent, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors.
To support sustainability in the tourism sector, Dubai has introduced the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp. This stamp validates hotels’ dedication to sustainability by meeting DET’s 19 Sustainability Requirements, including energy and water efficiency, waste management, and staff education. The accreditation process will follow global best practices and be overseen by a committee of senior industry professionals. The new stamp is designed to accelerate efforts towards empowering the tourism sector to achieve its sustainability goals and support the UAE’s NetZero 2050 initiative. As Dubai continually strives to achieve the objectives outlined in the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, the initiative will contribute to further consolidating the city’s status as one of the top three global destinations.
The stamp will feature a three-tier scheme with categories ranging from Gold, Silver and Bronze. Nominations for hotel establishments to obtain the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp will begin on 3 August, 2023 and end on 31 August, 2023.
Yousuf Lootah, Acting CEO of Corporate Strategy and Performance sector, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism stated: “As part of our efforts to transform Dubai into a the best place in the world to visit, live and work in, the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp champions sustainable practices while setting a benchmark for excellence in environmental stewardship, aligned with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda 2033. We have carefully curated a set of high standard criteria that will reward hotels that go above and beyond in their sustainable practices. By recognising these exemplary establishments, we are encouraging others to follow suit and embrace sustainable initiatives that not only benefit their businesses but also contribute to the collective well-being of our city and the world at large.”
As Dubai prepares to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), the UN Climate Change Conference from 30 November to 12 December this year, the launch of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp also demonstrates the tourism industry’s foresight and determination to foster an eco-friendly sector that is both economically prosperous and environmentally responsible.
DET’s sustainability strategy has paved the way for innovative initiatives including the Carbon Calculator, a mechanism to help stakeholders and partners identify cost saving opportunities and manage the transition to sustainable practices, in line with the ‘Sustainability Requirements’.
To learn more about Dubai, contact:
Anyuri Tosto
Dubai Economy & Tourism
North American Office
+1212-529-8484
