Dubai has approved a second AED1.5 billion (US$410 million) package of economic support measures targeting tourism, hospitality, aviation and trade as businesses continue managing disruption linked to the Iran war.
The new package includes 33 initiatives offering facilitation periods ranging from three to 12 months across tourism, customs, transport, education, construction and cultural sectors.
Approved by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the latest measures bring the total value of support introduced over the past two months to AED2.5 billion (US$680 million).
For tourism and hospitality businesses, the package includes exemptions from Tourism Dirham charges generally levied on hotel stays. Additional relief measures cover municipal fees on hotel rooms and restaurants, alongside permit and licence fees for holiday homes. Dubai will also waive permit, postponement and cancellation fees linked to events, exhibitions, conferences and sporting activities.
Additional aviation and transport support includes a 50% reduction in fees for renewing civil aviation activity permits, alongside deferred payments and selected fine exemptions across transport-related sectors.
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Additional support includes instalment payment options for import customs declarations, an 80% reduction in customs fines, extensions to building permit validity, deferred licence renewal fees for private educational institutions and reduced rental fees for temporary arts and cultural event spaces.
HH Sheikh Hamdan said: “We remain committed to strong public-private partnerships and maintaining close engagement with the community and business sector, taking every decision needed to support society, strengthen economic resilience and reinforce Dubai’s position as a global economic hub.”
The latest announcement expands on Dubai’s earlier AED1 billion (US$272 million) relief plan announced in March and implemented from 1 April 2026, which included three-month deferrals on hotel sales fees and Tourism Dirham charges until 30 June 2026. The scheme also covered hotels, hotel apartments and holiday homes, with authorities stating the move was designed to improve business cashflow across the emirate.
The initiative comes as Dubai’s economy grew 5.4% in 2025, with GDP exceeding AED937 billion (US$255 billion), according to figures reviewed by the Dubai Executive Council meeting in March 2026.
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