Dubai visitors to pay Tourism Dirham from March 31

More details of Dubai’s previously announced ‘Tourism Dirham’ have been revealed, with all hotel guests set to be charged between seven and 20 dirhams per room,  per night, from March 31, 2014.

The announcement came as His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, issued the Council’s resolution No. (2) of 2014. The resolution states that the ‘Tourism Dirham’ is to be a minimal charge applied to guests staying in all holiday accommodation including hotels, hotel apartments, guesthouses and holiday homes.

The charge has been introduced as a means to raise funds for the international promotion and marketing of the emirate, and to drive the growth of its tourism and trade industries. The minimal charge will vary between seven to 20 Dirhams per room, per night, dependant on the hotel’s category and rating, and will be applicable from March 31, 2014.

His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing said: “The introduction of the Tourism Dirham will support ‘Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing’, helping to ensure our continued competitiveness on the global stage which will be reflected positively on the growth of two of our economic pillars - trade and tourism.”

The establishment of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing was announced last week, with the new Corporation becoming an affiliate of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and focusing on the international promotion and marketing of Dubai.