All about the Tourism Dirham in Dubai
Disclaimer: Tourism charges have been waived off in some emirates to provide relief to the hospitality sector following the outbreak of coronavirus in the UAE.
Over the course of the last decade, Dubai has become a leading tourist destination in the world. The government of Dubai has played an active role in promoting the emirate as a global travel hub. While many landmarks and tourist destinations in Dubai offer free entry for the public, the government has levied some taxes to collect revenue that will further boost trade and tourism in the emirate. Today, we will talk about the Tourism Dirham in Dubai, as well as other tourism taxes in the country.
Tourism Dirham Dubai Tax
In 2014, The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) levied a per night tourist fee on guests staying in hotels and hotel apartments in Dubai. The additional fee was levied as per the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council.
Speaking at the time of the announcement, Helal Saeed Almarri (Director General of DTCM) 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 in the growth of two of our economic pillars — trade and tourism.”
DTCM further clarified that the Tourism Dirham Dubai will be used to boost the development of the emirate’s tourism and trade sectors and enhance the image of Dubai as the world’s leading tourist destination.
Tourism Dirham Dubai Charges
The Dubai Tourism Dirham fee is as follows:
- AED 20 for five-star hotels
- AED 15 for four-star hotels
- AED 10 for three-star hotels
- AED 7 for one-star/budget hotels
The DTCM Tourism Dirham is levied on a per night basis for a maximum of 30 consecutive nights. Guests have to pay this fee when they check-in.
According to the DTCM, the Tourism Dirham must be shown as a separate line item on the bill. Note that the municipality charge and service charge may not be imposed on this fee.
DTCM also states that a fine of AED15,000 would be enforced on hotels that provide inaccurate documents or incomplete information regarding the Tourism Dirham. The fine also applies if hotels are found to manipulate accounts in relation to the Tourism Dirham.
Tourism Charges in other Emirates
The government of Abu Dhabi in May 2016 announced that hotels in the capital will also charge an additional fee of 4% of the hotel bill and AED 15 per night as tourism fee.
Hotels in Ras Al Khaimah also charge AED 15 tourism fee per room per night.
Other Tourist Taxes
You should also know about the tourist taxes in the UAE that apply to restaurants, hotels, hotel apartments and resorts. These include
- 10% tax on room rate
- 10% service charge
- City tax (ranging between 6% – 10%)
- 10% municipality fees
- 6% as tourism fee
This wraps up our guide on the Tourism Dirham in Dubai. You can also read more about the applicable taxes in the UAE, whether you are visiting the country or planning to move here.
For those of you coming to Dubai for the first time, we have also compiled a master list of Dubai laws for tourists to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable trip.
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