The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism brought together more than 1,700 stakeholders from across aviation, hospitality, retail, events, government, and media at the Dubai Opera for its bi-annual City Briefing, reinforcing the importance of public-private collaboration in strengthening Dubai’s position as a leading global tourism and business destination.
Held in the presence of Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of DET, the briefing focused on aligning industry stakeholders around strategic priorities, ensuring operational continuity, and accelerating progress toward the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The session was structured around three core themes: coordinated responses to regional developments, the resilience of Dubai’s tourism sector alongside recent innovations, and a forward-looking roadmap of key initiatives, events, and developments shaping the sector through 2026.
Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, highlighted that Dubai’s tourism ecosystem has been built on strong coordination, agility, and global connectivity, supported by long-standing collaboration between public and private sector partners. He noted that this framework has enabled the sector to remain resilient amid regional developments while sustaining strong performance.
He added that the focus moving forward is on long-term growth, global competitiveness, and continued alignment with the D33 Agenda, as Dubai advances with clarity and shared purpose into the second half of 2026.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, emphasized the critical role of events in driving tourism growth, supporting businesses, and generating year-round demand. He said Dubai’s events strategy continues to evolve into a global benchmark, supported by strong public-private partnerships and a robust calendar of flagship programmes.
The briefing also outlined how DET and its partners responded swiftly to recent regional developments to safeguard Dubai’s visitor economy. Measures included activating contingency frameworks, coordinating closely with aviation partners including Emirates and flydubai, issuing real-time operational guidance, and maintaining clear communication across the tourism ecosystem to ensure stability and continuity.
Additional support measures included targeted financial relief for eligible operators, expedited licensing processes, and coordinated industry support designed to protect business continuity, preserve employment, and maintain service quality across the visitor experience.
Dubai’s tourism sector entered 2026 from a position of strength, supported by record international visitation in 2025, strong GDP growth, and 95.2 million passengers handled at Dubai International Airport, underscoring the emirate’s continued global appeal and economic momentum.
Across the hospitality and F&B sectors, businesses have adopted flexible pricing, value-added offerings, and promotional initiatives to sustain demand. Campaigns such as “Dubai, A Fine Way to Dine” and “Dubai Restaurant Week” have helped maintain momentum in the dining sector while encouraging local and visitor engagement.
Community-driven efforts within the culinary industry, including collaborative restaurant initiatives and support programmes for hospitality workers, have further strengthened sector resilience and cooperation.
The broader community response has also highlighted strong social cohesion, with residents actively participating in initiatives such as “We Love Dubai,” reinforcing a shared sense of identity and support across the emirate.
Looking ahead, DET emphasized continued investment in marketing across more than 80 source markets, supported by partnerships with over 3,000 global stakeholders to maintain strong international visibility and visitor inflows.
A packed calendar of upcoming events was also outlined, including Dubai Summer Surprises and the Dubai Fitness Challenge, both of which play a key role in driving seasonal tourism, retail activity, and lifestyle engagement.
Major infrastructure developments were also highlighted, including the expansion of Dubai Metro through the Gold Line and Blue Line projects, as well as the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, which will significantly enhance Dubai’s long-term aviation capacity and global connectivity.
The City Briefing concluded with a unified commitment from stakeholders to deepen collaboration, sustain growth momentum, and continue advancing the objectives of the D33 Agenda, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for tourism, investment, and innovation.
