As conflict across the Middle East forces airlines to cancel thousands of flights and travellers reconsider journeys through the region, Dubai has launched an unusual campaign to persuade visitors to return.
The Dubai Invite initiative allows UAE residents to nominate friends and relatives living overseas and receive benefits valued at more than AED3,000, approximately A$1,250, if those guests visit the emirate.
The benefits are not a cash payment but a collection of hotel stays, restaurant offers and attraction tickets provided by participating tourism businesses.
Visitors must arrive in Dubai before 31 October 2026, while the rewards can be redeemed until December. Each resident can receive a maximum of three benefits packages and each international visitor can only be nominated once.
The campaign comes as the Middle East conflict continues to cause significant disruption to airlines, airports and tourism businesses across the region.
India’s Government told parliament this week that Indian carriers alone had cancelled approximately 26,000 international flights by 20 July because of airspace restrictions linked to the US Iran conflict.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the restrictions had resulted in widespread cancellations, diversions and delays across airlines and airports.
Rerouting aircraft around affected airspace has also increased flight times, fuel consumption and operating costs, with Indian airlines reporting significant revenue losses from the continuing disruption.
A number of major international carriers have also withdrawn from Dubai.
British Airways has suspended flights to the emirate until 25 October, while Singapore Airlines has cancelled services SQ494 and SQ495 between Singapore and Dubai until 24 October.
Lufthansa and SWISS have suspended Dubai flights until September, while KLM, Air Canada, Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Aegean Airlines, Air Astana and airBaltic have cancelled or postponed services for varying periods.
Dubai based Emirates and other Gulf carriers continue to operate many services, although schedules and flight paths remain subject to change as airlines respond to security conditions and airspace restrictions.
Dubai welcomed nearly 20 million international visitors in 2025, its highest annual total. However, tourism has reportedly fallen sharply since the conflict escalated, with airlines reducing operations and hotels experiencing lower occupancy.
The Dubai Invite campaign is designed to use the emirate’s large expatriate population to help reverse that decline by encouraging residents to bring family members and friends to the city.
The response appears to have been swift, with local media reporting more than 10,000 applications during the first 48 hours of the campaign.
For Australian travellers, the initiative comes as the Australian Government continues to advise people to reconsider their need to travel to the United Arab Emirates due to the unpredictable regional security situation.
Smartraveller warns that UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, affecting flights through both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Travellers are being advised to confirm arrangements directly with their airline or travel provider before departure.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also advised airlines to avoid Gulf airspace until at least 29 July.
Dubai’s new rewards may provide an added incentive for some visitors, but with Australian travel advice elevated, major airlines remaining absent and flight disruption continuing, restoring traveller confidence could prove considerably more difficult.
