Thinking of convincing your family or friends to visit Dubai?

Now you have an extra incentive.

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched A Dubai Invite, a new programme that rewards UAE residents and citizens for inviting loved ones from overseas to visit the emirate.

If your guests arrive in Dubai between July 20 and October 31, you could unlock more than Dh3,000 worth of rewards, including hotel stays, dining vouchers, attraction tickets and exclusive lifestyle offers.

How to claim the rewards

Getting started is simple.

Before your guest travels, register their details through the A Dubai Invite online nomination form.

Once they arrive in Dubai, their entry is verified automatically, so there’s no extra paperwork or check-in required.

Within 72 hours, you’ll receive an email with details of your reward package and instructions on how to redeem it.

Who’s eligible?

You can take part if you:

• Are a UAE resident or citizen aged 18 or above
• Have a valid Emirates ID
• Invite friends or family who live outside the UAE
• Register their visit before they arrive

Visitors must enter Dubai between July 20 and October 31, whether by air, land or sea.

The programme doesn’t include visas, so visitors must arrange their own travel documents if required.

What’s included?

Each successful nomination unlocks a reward package worth more than Dh3,000.

Offers cover:

• Hotel stays
• Restaurants
• Tourist attractions
• Lifestyle experiences

Participating brands include Careem, Hala, W Dubai Mina Seyahi, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark, Meliá Desert Palm, and IHG Hotels & Resorts.

A few rules to remember

There are a few conditions before you start sending invites:

• You can nominate up to five visitors per submission.
• Each resident can receive up to three reward packages during the campaign.
• Each visitor can only be nominated once. If someone has already registered them, another nomination won’t qualify.

The rewards will be available until December 31, 2026, unless stated otherwise.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to bring friends and family to Dubai, this could be it, and you’ll be rewarded for it too.

Online shopping with the UAE’s Jaywan card just got a major upgrade.

Network International has announced that Jaywan cardholders can now use their cards to pay on thousands of online stores connected to its payment gateway, expanding the domestic payment scheme beyond in-store purchases.

The move is expected to make online payments faster and more convenient while supporting the UAE’s push towards a cashless economy.

What is Jaywan?

Launched by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, Jaywan is the country’s domestic payment card scheme.

It was introduced to provide a secure local payment option, reduce transaction costs and strengthen the UAE’s digital payments ecosystem.

Until now, Jaywan cards were mainly accepted for in-store purchases. With the latest expansion, cardholders can also use them for online shopping across thousands of merchants powered by Network International.

What this means for shoppers

For UAE residents, the update means more flexibility when shopping online.

Whether you’re ordering groceries, booking services or buying products online, you’ll be able to use your Jaywan card anywhere that supports Network International’s payment gateway.

The company says the integration offers secure, fast and seamless online payments, while merchants won’t face additional charges for Jaywan transactions processed through its platform.

A step towards a cashless UAE

The expansion is part of the UAE’s broader strategy to accelerate digital payments and reduce reliance on cash.

By making Jaywan available both in stores and online, payment providers are helping create a more connected digital payment ecosystem for businesses and consumers alike.

As more banks, merchants and payment providers adopt the scheme, residents can expect to see Jaywan accepted across even more everyday payment services in the future.

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the Delhi High Court’s decision to cancel the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) tender process for outsourcing passport, visa and consular services at Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant dismissed the Centre’s appeal, directing the MEA to comply with the High Court’s ruling and complete a fresh tender process within three months.

To ensure there is no disruption to services, the Supreme Court allowed the MEA to continue with the existing service providers or temporarily engage the lowest (L-1) bidders whose contracts had previously been set aside. The ministry may also make any other suitable interim arrangements until the new tender process is completed.

The court clarified that these temporary measures will not create any legal rights for any party and will remain in place only until fresh contracts are awarded.

According to legal reports, the Bench, which also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, heard arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the Union Government, along with senior advocates representing the private companies involved in the case.

The ruling means the MEA must restart the tender process while following the directions issued by the Delhi High Court.

Meanwhile, due to the ongoing legal proceedings, Indian diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been providing passport and consular services directly from their premises, ensuring that services for the Indian community in the UAE continue without interruption.