The Emirate of Dubai in the UAE has announced a new set of economic relief measures for the hospitality sector and the business community, as part of AED 1 billion in measures approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aimed at strengthening companies' resilience, easing their financial burdens, supporting business continuity and restoring growth momentum in the coming period.
The relief measures for the hospitality sector include allowing hotels to defer payment of the full tourism fees on room, food and beverage sales for 3 months from 1 April 2026, with the decision applying to all hospitality establishments, including hotels, hotel apartments and holiday homes, according to a post on the Emirates News Agency (WAM) website.
The economic relief measures, which apply for the same period, also include deferring a number of fees linked to business licenses, including foreign trade name fees, amendment fees, fees for advertising commercial licenses and their amendments, local fees on commercial licenses, and staff and labor accommodation fees, along with public cleaning and service improvement fees. These measures enable new licenses to be issued or existing ones renewed, with companies to be given a new update at the end of the three months covered by these measures.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, explained that the initiative reflects Dubai's economic model based on flexibility, clarity and cooperation, adding that the speed with which these measures were approved and implemented confirms the leadership's keenness to ease the financial burden on the business community and stimulate the economy.
He noted that Dubai's tourism and economic sectors have grown in past years thanks to continuous communication with stakeholders, readiness to understand challenges and available opportunities, and the swift adoption of policies that stimulate growth and boost resilience.
For his part, Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, explained that these measures came in direct response to feedback from partners in the tourism sector, strengthening the sector's ability to continue growing, praising the resilience of the sector's players and their ability to maintain high levels of service quality and tourism offerings.
In a related context, Ahmed Khalifa Al Qaizi Al Falasi, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Commercial Registration and Licensing, stressed that Dubai has strengthened its global standing as a city of trade and business thanks to its rapid response to the needs of companies and business owners. He explained that giving companies additional flexibility in the coming months will enable them to focus on their strategic priorities and enhance the long-term sustainability of their operations, noting that the economic measures also included extending grace periods for customs declarations, along with simplifying procedures for issuing and renewing residence permits.
To view the post on the Emirates News Agency website, click here.
