Dubai’s new tourist loyalty card is an invitation-only membership for people who visit the city again and again. Called the Dubai Access Club, it bundles a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa with perks such as up to AED 2,000 in credit, a free du SIM card, and the ALSAADA card from GDRFA Dubai. The application fee is AED 4,032.50, and you can only apply once a partner invites you.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the programme on 1 November 2026. GDRFA Dubai and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) then released the full details on 5 November 2026, describing it as the world’s first city-led, invitation-only tourism membership programme of its kind.
What is the Dubai tourist loyalty card?
The Dubai tourist loyalty card is the membership behind the Dubai Access Club. It rewards repeat visitors with a long-term visa and a set of offers across hotels, attractions and shops, so returning to Dubai is easier and better value.
The programme has a legal basis in Executive Council Resolution No. (86) of 2025, which approved the Dubai Tourist Loyalty Programme on 18 November 2025. Under the resolution, the card gives holders access to offers and discounts in sectors such as:
- Retail
- Telecommunications
- Hotels and hotel apartments
- Hospitality and restaurants
- Recreational activities
The programme supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading destination for business and leisure.
How loyalty cards work: the Dubai Access Club model
Most loyalty cards work the same basic way: you join a programme, use it when you buy or visit, and receive rewards in return. Dubai’s tourist loyalty card follows this idea, but it links the rewards to your visa rather than to points you collect.
Here is how the journey works, from invitation to benefits:
- You receive an invitation: A launch partner, such as an airline loyalty programme or your employer, nominates you.
- You apply and pay: You complete the application, upload your documents and pay the membership fee.
- GDRFA Dubai reviews the visa: The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai assesses your five-year visa application.
- You get your visa by email: Once approved, the visa arrives by email.
- Your membership is confirmed: DET confirms your membership and emails you the details of your benefits.
Your membership stays valid for as long as your multiple-entry visa does, so the card and the visa run side by side for five years.
Dubai Access Club benefits
Confirmed members get immediate access to a set of partner benefits. The table below sums up what is available now.
| Benefit | What you get |
| Five-year multiple-entry tourist visa | Stay up to 90 days within a one-year period, with GDRFA Dubai reviewing the application. |
| Spending credit | Up to AED 2,000 to spend across a curated selection of hotels, attractions, and retail destinations |
| Majid Al Futtaim gift card | Loaded with credit to spend on experiences across its retail stores and destinations |
| ALSAADA card | GDRFA Dubai’s tourist card, with more than 20 exclusive offers and promotions across the city |
| Free prepaid SIM card | From the telecom operator, ready for you when you arrive |
Benefits coming soon
More partner offers will be announced. According to the official announcement, these include:
- Hotel room upgrades
- Lounge access
- Advance booking windows for events
Who can get the loyalty card?
You cannot buy the Dubai tourist loyalty card on the open market. Membership is invitation-only and aimed at frequent visitors to Dubai. Invitations go out through select loyalty programmes and multinational companies linked to the programme’s launch partners:
- Emirates: Some of the airline’s most loyal Skywards members.
- Accor: Guests recognised through the hotel group’s partnership with the programme.
- Visa: Visa Infinite cardholders visiting Dubai.
The programme also lets participating multinational companies invite eligible employees who travel to Dubai for meetings and corporate events during the year. More partners are expected to join over time.
Even with an invitation, your membership depends on GDRFA Dubai approving your five-year visa.
How to join the Dubai Access Club
If you have received an invitation, the process happens online:
- Open the application link shared with your invitation.
- Fill in your personal information exactly as it appears on your passport.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the membership fee of AED 4,032.50.
- Wait for GDRFA Dubai to approve your visa. You will receive it by email.
- Check your inbox for your membership confirmation and benefits details.
How to Register Your Interest in Dubai Access Club
Visit Dubai, the official tourism portal run by DET, and use its register your interest form. You can sign up as an employee who would like your employer to partner with the programme, or as a loyalty member who would like your loyalty programme to join. The form asks for your company or programme details, passport name and number, nationality, country of residence, date of birth, and contact details.
Note: Registering your interest does not guarantee an invitation. DET will contact you when new opportunities become available.
Documents required for the loyalty card
Prepare these documents before you start your application:
- A personal photo
- A copy of your passport
- A six-month bank statement
- Proof of health insurance
- A round-trip ticket
Loyalty card fees and processing time
One payment covers both your membership and your visa.
| Item | Details |
| Application fee | AED 4,032.50 |
| What the fee covers | Programme membership, the five-year multiple-entry visa fee and other benefits |
| Card charge set by Resolution No. (86) of 2025 | AED 3,200 plus VAT (included in the total above) |
| Processing time | Usually up to 48 hours from submitting your application and payment |
| Refund if the visa is rejected | Application fee refunded, minus AED 183 |
| Membership validity | Same as your multiple-entry visa (five years) |
Processing times can vary depending on your individual circumstances, so apply well before your next trip.
The five-year multiple-entry visa explained
The visa is the core of the Dubai Access Club. It lets you enter Dubai several times over five years without applying for a new visa each trip, and you can stay up to 90 days within a one-year period.
GDRFA Dubai is the authority that reviews and issues the visa. If it approves your application, the visa comes by email first, and your loyalty card membership is confirmed after that. The card itself is valid for five years from the visa issue date and ends if the visa expires or is cancelled.
Dubai already offers a standalone five-year tourist visa outside this programme. You can read about its rules and fees in our guide to the UAE multiple-entry visa. For shorter trips, our UAE visit visa guide explains the other visa options.
Rules for using the loyalty card
Resolution No. (86) of 2025 sets a few clear rules for cardholders:
- Personal use only: The card is issued in the visa holder’s name, and no one else can use it.
- Not a payment card: It has no monetary value, and you cannot use it to pay or as credit. The AED 2,000 credit comes from partner benefits, not from the card itself.
- Linked to your visa: If your visa expires or is cancelled, the card stops working.
- Follow DET’s terms: Use and replacement of the card follow the terms set by the Department of Economy and Tourism.
How it compares with other loyalty cards in UAE
Most loyalty cards in UAE come from malls, supermarkets, airlines, hotels, or banks, and they reward you for spending. If you want an overview of those programmes, our guide to the top loyalty and discount cards in the UAE covers them by category.
The Dubai Access Club works differently in three ways:
- It is a government-led programme, backed by an Executive Council resolution.
- It is invitation-only rather than open to anyone who signs up.
- Its main reward is a five-year visa, with partner perks added on top.
It also builds on A Dubai Invite, the DET initiative that rewards UAE residents who invite family and friends to visit Dubai.
If you find yourself spending more time in Dubai each year, it may be worth looking at longer-term options too. Browse properties for sale in Dubai or read about the UAE Golden Visa to see whether owning a home here makes sense for you.
Key Takeaways
- The Dubai tourist loyalty card is the membership behind the Dubai Access Club, launched on 1 November 2026.
- It is invitation-only, through partners such as Emirates Skywards, Accor, Visa, and participating multinational companies.
- Members get a five-year multiple-entry visa, up to AED 2,000 in credit, a free du SIM card, and the ALSAADA card.
- The application fee is AED 4,032.50, and processing usually takes up to 48 hours.
- If GDRFA Dubai rejects the visa, you get the fee back minus AED 183.
- Without an invitation, you can register your interest on Visit Dubai.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the membership card of the Dubai Access Club, an invitation-only programme for repeat visitors. Members get a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa plus partner benefits across hotels, attractions, and retail.
The application fee is AED 4,032.50. It covers programme membership, the five-year multiple-entry visa fee, and other benefits.
No. Applications are only available by invitation through select corporate, tourism and hospitality partners. You can register your interest on Visit Dubai, but this does not guarantee an invitation.
Your membership is valid for as long as your multiple-entry visa, which is five years.
The five-year multiple-entry visa lets you stay up to 90 days within a one-year period.
Yes. If GDRFA Dubai rejects your visa, the application fee is refunded minus a deduction of AED 183.
Processing usually takes up to 48 hours from the moment you submit your application and payment, although it can vary.
No. The card has no monetary value and cannot be used as a payment or credit card. It gives you access to offers and discounts from partners.
A loyalty card links you to a programme that rewards repeat use, through points, discounts, or perks. Dubai’s tourist loyalty card rewards repeat visits with a five-year visa and partner offers instead of points.
