New Tourist Tax for visitors to Dubai

Starting at the end of March

Travel Insurance News - 04/02/2014

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Tourists flying off to Dubai may be in for a nasty shock as the Dubai government has announced it has plans to introduce a tourist tax which will be levied on all holiday accommodation by next month. From March 31st the fee will operate across a range of charges from Dh7 (£1.20) to Dh20 (£3.30) per room per night. The rating will be dependent on the hotel category and the other accommodation’s rating. The government spokesman said ‘The revenues will support marketing and promotion of the destination, through the newly established Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.”

The tax which is being called ‘Tourism Dirham’ will be introduced on anywhere that tourists stay from hotels, apartments, guesthouses to holiday homes.

It is understood that the tax is being introduced by the Dubai Government by way of helping to raise money for the ‘international promotion and marketing of the Emirate’; it will also be used to help promote the growth of the country’s tourism industry.

The government believes it will ‘strengthen Dubai’s position, bringing the emirate in line with international industry standards, with such tourism fees being customary in a number of the world’s leading tourist destinations’.

The Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing said: ‘The introduction of the Tourism Dirham will support the continued growth of two of our economic pillars, trade, and tourism, ultimately creating employment and business opportunities”.

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