A dedicated support package for the UAE’s tourism industry is in the pipeline, with the country’s economy minister signalling that relief measures are being shaped through direct consultations with sector players.
Speaking on Dubai Eye 103.8’s Business Breakfast show, Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said the package would directly tackle the difficulties businesses are encountering. “We are supporting the tourism sector, we are speaking to them daily. We do have a package that will come up very soon that will really address the tourism issues and the challenges that they are facing,” he said.
Hospitality operators and related businesses have come under strain as regional developments continue to affect travel flows and aviation activity.
Dubai has already rolled out an AED 1 billion economic support package, giving hotels and businesses a three-month window — beginning April 1 — to defer key government fees. The deferral covers 100% of room sales fees, food and beverage charges, and the Tourism Dirham. Hotel apartments and holiday homes are also covered under the relief measures, widening the scope of the intervention.
On the market stability front, authorities have moved to prevent regional pressures from driving up consumer prices. The minister said retailers seeking to raise food and beverage prices must submit requests through the ministry’s website — and none have so far been approved. “All the retailers, for instance, when it comes to food and beverages, cannot really increase any price without coming and actually submitting on the ministry website, [and] we haven’t approved any price increase,” he said.
Residents have been urged to purchase through established retail outlets and refrain from stockpiling. “We have a good structure of supply chain happening. And I think that’s something in which the UAE is very strong,” the minister added.
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said ongoing dialogue with industry stakeholders has been central to shaping the government’s response. “We have been closely engaging with stakeholders across the tourism sector as they navigate through unique challenges,” he said.
The minister struck a confident tone on the broader economic outlook, dismissing suggestions that the current climate poses a lasting threat. “The UAE is strong, a 40-day conflict will not determine the future of the UAE economy,” he said, adding that the country will “bounce back.”
Price controls and supply chain monitoring are being maintained in parallel with the sector-specific measures as part of a wider effort to sustain economic continuity.
