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The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism announced a record 237 hotels received the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp during the third cycle of the programme. According to the department, the total marked a 55 percent increase over the 153 hotels recognised in the previous cycle and more than tripled the 70 participants from the initiative’s launch in 2023. The awards included 22 hotels at the Gold level, 92 at Silver and 123 at Bronze after they satisfied the required criteria. This expansion demonstrates growing engagement with sustainability standards across the hospitality industry.
Hotels qualify for the stamp by satisfying 19 sustainability requirements that encompass environmental, social and governance standards, a DET evaluation showed. Key focus areas involve improving energy and water efficiency, implementing effective waste management, ensuring responsible sourcing, promoting employee engagement, educating guests, supporting community initiatives and advancing climate action. An independent third-party assessor conducts the review before a senior jury committee makes final determinations, with successful hotels retaining the certification for one year to promote sustained commitment.
Yousuf Lootah, the CEO of Corporate Strategy and Performance at the department, stated, “Guided by our city’s visionary leadership, the DST Stamp was introduced in 2023 to champion sustainable practices and set new benchmarks for excellence in environmental stewardship, simultaneously contributing towards meeting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goals. The strong increase in the number of hotels meeting the criteria for recognition in this latest cycle of the Dubai DST Stamp shows the commitment at which Dubai’s hospitality sector is embedding sustainability into everyday operations. The continued success of this initiative and the commitment to meeting DET’s 19 Sustainability Requirements also reflects the power of collaborative efforts across the public and private sectors, which continue to propel growth across the wider hospitality sector. We congratulate the latest certified hotels and encourage every hotel in Dubai, whether recognised this year or not, to continue to embrace a culture of sustainability.” The statement emphasised collaborative efforts between public and private sectors in driving the programme forward.
The Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp supports the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy as well as the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals, according to the department. It additionally contributes to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by enhancing the emirate’s appeal as a sustainable tourism destination. The department offers practical assistance to hotels through tools such as a carbon calculator and educational courses on its Dubai Way platform to help meet the requirements.
Dubai recorded 17.15 million international tourists in 2023, a 19.4 percent increase from the year before, DET statistics show. This upward trend has placed greater emphasis on sustainability measures to ensure long-term viability of the tourism sector. The stamp programme forms part of efforts to balance growth with environmental protection and social responsibility.
Participation in the programme has grown steadily since its launch, demonstrating the effectiveness of the collaborative approach between regulators and hotel operators. The department plans to introduce further enhancements to the initiative in coming cycles to build on this momentum. Officials encourage all hotels in Dubai to pursue certification regardless of previous outcomes to foster a widespread culture of sustainability.
