The UAE’s Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, confirmed on 6 April that the federal government is finalising a dedicated support package for travel-and-tourism operators whose revenues have been hammered by five weeks of regional conflict. Although officials would not yet disclose the total budget, the minister told Dubai Eye radio that assistance will focus on working-capital relief and fee deferrals for hotels, destination-management companies, tour operators and conference organisers. The announcement follows Dubai’s own AED 1 billion (US $272 million) stimulus approved on 1 April, which suspends collection of the Tourism Dirham levy, hotel-sales fees and several licensing charges for three months. Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah are expected to mirror parts of the programme so that incentives remain consistent across the country’s seven emirates.
![UAE readies targeted aid package to keep tourism and hospitality afloat]()
For companies and individual travellers needing streamlined visa support amid these changes, VisaHQ offers an online portal dedicated to UAE entry permits and extensions. The service—accessible at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/—provides up-to-date requirements, real-time application tracking and expert guidance, helping business delegations and tourists stay compliant while planning trips under the new incentives.
Industry executives say the timing is critical. According to data from hospitality analytics firm STR, average daily room rates in Dubai fell 19 per cent in March while forward bookings for Ramadan and Eid dropped by nearly a third compared with 2025. International airlines are still operating reduced schedules and group-travel organisers report cancellations from key source markets such as Germany and South Korea. The minister stressed that the package will also address liquidity constraints facing small and medium-sized enterprises. Dubai South, the free-zone city around Al Maktoum International Airport, is already offering SMEs rent-free renewal options, flexible payment plans and waived penalties. Similar landlord concessions are under discussion for Abu Dhabi’s two-four-fifty programme and for Sharjah’s Air Arabia-anchored logistics zone. For mobility managers the message is two-fold: the UAE remains committed to safeguarding its visitor economy, and federal authorities are coordinating closely with emirate-level entities to avoid a patchwork of incentives. Companies with relocating staff or large event delegations should monitor the forthcoming Cabinet resolution, expected before Eid Al-Fitr, to determine whether newly deferred fees (such as hotel-sales charges) flow through to corporate contracts. They should also review supplier solvency where smaller tour operators are concerned, as cash-flow support may arrive unevenly across the sector.
For companies and individual travellers needing streamlined visa support amid these changes, VisaHQ offers an online portal dedicated to UAE entry permits and extensions. The service—accessible at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/—provides up-to-date requirements, real-time application tracking and expert guidance, helping business delegations and tourists stay compliant while planning trips under the new incentives.
Industry executives say the timing is critical. According to data from hospitality analytics firm STR, average daily room rates in Dubai fell 19 per cent in March while forward bookings for Ramadan and Eid dropped by nearly a third compared with 2025. International airlines are still operating reduced schedules and group-travel organisers report cancellations from key source markets such as Germany and South Korea. The minister stressed that the package will also address liquidity constraints facing small and medium-sized enterprises. Dubai South, the free-zone city around Al Maktoum International Airport, is already offering SMEs rent-free renewal options, flexible payment plans and waived penalties. Similar landlord concessions are under discussion for Abu Dhabi’s two-four-fifty programme and for Sharjah’s Air Arabia-anchored logistics zone. For mobility managers the message is two-fold: the UAE remains committed to safeguarding its visitor economy, and federal authorities are coordinating closely with emirate-level entities to avoid a patchwork of incentives. Companies with relocating staff or large event delegations should monitor the forthcoming Cabinet resolution, expected before Eid Al-Fitr, to determine whether newly deferred fees (such as hotel-sales charges) flow through to corporate contracts. They should also review supplier solvency where smaller tour operators are concerned, as cash-flow support may arrive unevenly across the sector.
