Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed unveiled a new initiative called Dubai Access Club on Sunday, November 1, described by officials as the world's first city-led, invitation-only tourism membership programme.

The club is designed to reward travellers who make repeat visits to the emirate. According to the announcement, members will gain access to exclusive experiences, services and benefits, though the specific perks have not yet been detailed publicly. Membership works on an invitation basis rather than open enrolment, meaning not every visitor will automatically qualify.

Alongside the loyalty club, Dubai said it is expanding tourist visa access. Single-entry and multiple-entry visa applications can now be submitted through the official Visit Dubai website, the same platform travellers already use to book attractions, buy tickets and plan their trips. Officials indicated that additional visa categories will be added to the platform in the future, continuing what they describe as the first phase of a broader visa integration effort.

The announcements form part of Dubai's wider strategy to reinforce its position as a leading global destination for tourism and business, at a time when regional geopolitical tensions have weighed on travel and transport activity. Tourism officials framed the new club as a way to retain loyal, repeat visitors and support revenue across the hospitality and travel services sector.

Dubai Access Club and the visa platform expansion were revealed on the same day the emirate unveiled the Nad Zabeel research campus, underscoring how the government is rolling out several economic initiatives in parallel as part of its long-term growth agenda.