Dubai Access Club: New Tourist Rewards Programme for Repeat Visitors Explained

Dubai is introducing new initiatives to strengthen its position as a leading international tourism destination. Alongside the integration of tourist visa applications into the Visit Dubai platform, the emirate has announced a new membership programme designed to encourage visitors to return.

On 1 November 2026, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, announced the Dubai Access Club. The programme is described as a city-led, invitation-only membership initiative for repeat visitors, offering exclusive experiences, services and benefits.

The initiative reflects Dubai's efforts to build stronger relationships with international visitors and encourage repeat tourism.

However, the new announcement should be considered alongside an earlier legal development: Executive Council Resolution No. (86) of 2025, which approved the Dubai Tourist Loyalty Programme. Although both initiatives concern tourist benefits and loyalty, the 2025 Resolution contains specific provisions concerning a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa and a Dubai Tourist Loyalty Card.

This article explains the new Dubai Access Club, its announced features and the relevant legal background.

1. What Is the Dubai Access Club?

Dubai Access Club is an invitation-only membership programme designed for people who visit Dubai repeatedly.

Announced on 1 November 2026, the initiative aims to provide invited members with exclusive experiences, services and benefits when they return to the emirate.

According to the official announcement, the programme is intended to make repeat visits more rewarding and strengthen visitors' long-term connection with Dubai.

The initiative has been developed through cooperation between:

• General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai);

• Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); and

• Digital Dubai.

The programme forms part of Dubai's wider tourism development strategy and supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.

The official Visit Dubai website describes the Dubai Access Club as an exclusive, invitation-only programme for repeat visitors, offering premium services and benefits.

2. Who Can Join the Dubai Access Club?

The programme is designed for repeat visitors and operates on an invitation-only basis.

This means that it should not be treated as a general membership scheme that every tourist can automatically join by completing an ordinary registration form.

The official announcement confirms the invitation-only nature of the programme. However, detailed information about the selection criteria, invitation process, membership conditions and any minimum number of previous visits has not been fully specified in the announcement.

Visitors should therefore refer to the official Dubai Access Club platform for the latest membership information.

In particular, travellers should not assume that holding a valid UAE tourist visa automatically makes them eligible for membership.

3. What Benefits Will Members Receive?

The Dubai Access Club is intended to bring together exclusive offers, experiences and services for invited members.

The stated objectives include:

• Providing access to exclusive experiences;

• Offering special services and visitor privileges;

• Making repeat visits more convenient;

• Strengthening visitors' engagement with Dubai; and

• Encouraging continued interaction with the emirate's tourism and business sectors.

The programme is intended to make returning to Dubai more rewarding.

However, the 1 November 2026 announcement did not provide a complete list of specific benefits, participating businesses, membership fees or detailed redemption conditions.

Accordingly, visitors should rely on the official programme information rather than assuming that particular hotel discounts, restaurant offers, transport benefits or complimentary services are guaranteed.

4. Is Dubai Access Club the Same as the Dubai Tourist Loyalty Programme Under Resolution No. 86 of 2025?

No. The two should be distinguished when explaining Dubai's tourist reward initiatives.

Before the announcement of Dubai Access Club, Dubai had already approved the Dubai Tourist Loyalty Programme through Executive Council Resolution No. (86) of 2025, issued on 18 November 2025.

The Resolution establishes a specific programme connected with a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa and a Dubai Tourist Loyalty Card.

Some of its important provisions include:

A. Five-year multiple-entry tourist visa

Article (1) defines the visa covered by the Resolution as the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa regulated under Federal Decree-Law No. (29) of 2021 concerning entry and residence of foreigners and its implementing legislation.

B. Dubai Tourist Loyalty Card

Article (5) approves a Dubai Tourist Loyalty Card and specifies a charge of AED 3,200 for issuing the card. Applicable VAT is added separately. This charge does not include the visa fee.

C. Application and approval process

Under Article (6), applications are submitted through the DET's digital platform. DET reviews the application and coordinates with GDRFA to verify compliance with visa issuance requirements.

D. Refund where a visa application is rejected

Article (7) provides for a refund of the card charge if the visa application is rejected.

E. Sectors covered by the card

Article (8) identifies the sectors in which cardholders may access services, offers and discounts, including:

• Retail outlets;

• Telecommunications;

• Hotels and hotel apartments;

• Hospitality;

• Restaurants; and

• Recreational activities.

F. Validity and personal use

Article (9) provides that the card remains valid for five years from the date the visa is issued and expires when the visa expires or is cancelled.

Article (10) states that the card is issued in the visa holder's name, cannot be transferred to another person and has no monetary value. It cannot be used as a payment or credit instrument.

These provisions establish a specific legal arrangement for the Dubai Tourist Loyalty Programme.

By contrast, Dubai Access Club was announced in November 2026 as an invitation-only membership programme for repeat visitors. The announcement does not establish that it replaces Resolution No. (86) of 2025 or that the two programmes have identical eligibility requirements, fees or benefits.

Visitors should therefore distinguish between the two initiatives and check the applicable official terms before applying or relying on any advertised benefit.

5. How Does Dubai Access Club Support the Tourism Sector?

Tourism is an important part of Dubai's economic development strategy. Encouraging visitors to return can support hotels, restaurants, retail businesses, entertainment venues and other tourism-related activities.

Dubai Access Club is intended to strengthen the relationship between the destination and visitors beyond a single holiday.

The programme also reflects a broader approach to tourism development: rather than focusing exclusively on attracting first-time visitors, Dubai is seeking to encourage repeat visits through exclusive experiences and membership benefits.

This supports the wider objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to strengthen Dubai's international position as a destination for business and leisure.

For businesses operating in the tourism and hospitality sectors, initiatives of this kind may create opportunities to participate in visitor-benefit programmes and develop stronger relationships with returning customers.

The precise commercial arrangements and participation conditions will depend on the programme's published terms and the relevant agreements with participating entities.

6. What Should Visitors Know Before Relying on the Programme?

Visitors interested in Dubai Access Club should keep the following points in mind:

• Membership is invitation-only; it is not an automatic entitlement for every tourist.

• The programme is designed for repeat visitors.

• Specific benefits and membership conditions should be checked through the official programme platform.

• The announcement does not establish that membership guarantees visa approval or changes immigration eligibility.

• The Dubai Access Club should not be confused with the separate Dubai Tourist Loyalty Programme approved under Resolution No. (86) of 2025.

• Visitors should check the terms and conditions applicable to any particular offer before making bookings or payments.

These distinctions are important because a tourism membership programme, a visa application and a legally approved loyalty-card arrangement serve different purposes.

Conclusion

The launch of Dubai Access Club marks another step in Dubai's efforts to strengthen its international tourism sector and encourage repeat visitors.

The invitation-only programme is intended to provide exclusive experiences, services and benefits to returning travellers. It also reflects the emirate's wider strategy of building long-term relationships with visitors and supporting the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.

At the same time, Dubai's existing Executive Council Resolution No. (86) of 2025 already provides for a separate Dubai Tourist Loyalty Programme linked to a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa and a loyalty card.

Understanding the distinction between these initiatives is important for visitors and tourism businesses. The actual eligibility conditions, membership benefits and operational requirements should always be verified through the relevant official channels.

Malhotra Legal Consultancy FZ LLE follows UAE legal and regulatory developments to help individuals and businesses understand initiatives and legal changes that may affect them.