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.

India will increase passport issuance and renewal fees by as much as 75% from 1 July, according to amendments to the Passport Rules notified by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The revision, announced through a gazette notification issued on 20 June, marks the first major increase in passport fees since 2012. The move comes a day after the Indian government clarified that a passport is primarily a travel document and should not be treated as proof of citizenship.

How much will a new passport cost?

Under the revised rates, a standard 36-page passport will cost Rs2,500 under the normal scheme, up from Rs1,500. Applications under the Tatkaal (expedited) scheme will rise from Rs3,500 to Rs5,000.

A 60-page passport will now cost Rs3,500 under the normal process and Rs6,000 under Tatkaal, compared with the current Rs2,000 and Rs4,000 respectively.

For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), fees will also increase significantly, with a standard 36-page passport rising from $75 to $125 and a 60-page passport from $100 to $175.

Higher charges for lost or damaged passports

Applicants seeking a replacement for a lost or damaged 36-page passport will have to pay Rs5,000 under the normal scheme and Rs7,500 under Tatkaal, up from Rs3,000 and Rs5,000 respectively.

For a 60-page passport, the fee will rise to Rs6,000 under the normal process and Rs8,500 under Tatkaal.

What about children’s passports?

Passport fees for minors have also been revised upward.

For applicants below 18 years of age, a fresh 36-page passport will now cost Rs1,750 under the normal scheme and Rs4,250 under Tatkaal, compared with the current rates of Rs1,000 and Rs3,000.

The cost of replacing a lost or damaged passport for minors has also increased, with fees now set at Rs4,250 under the normal scheme and Rs6,750 under Tatkaal.

Changes to other passport-related services

The government has also increased charges for services such as Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs), Surrender Certificates, Global Entry Programme verification and other passport-related certificates.

The fee for these services will now be Rs750 under the normal scheme. For NRIs, the charge will be $40.

Any relief for applicants?

The revised framework introduces a 10% discount on fresh passport applications for children up to eight years of age and senior citizens aged above 60.

However, the concession will apply only to new passport applications and not to passport reissues.

Why does it matter?

The increase represents the first passport fee revision in 14 years and will affect millions of applicants in India and abroad. With fees rising across nearly all categories, the cost of obtaining or renewing a passport is set to become significantly higher from July 1.

Abu Dhabi authorities have closed 69 food establishments since last year after inspectors uncovered serious food safety violations, including pest infestations, expired products and poor hygiene standards.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) said 55 businesses were shut down in 2025, while another 14 have been closed so far in 2026 after repeatedly failing to comply with food safety requirements.

Why were they closed?

Officials said the most common violations included:

• Selling expired food products
• Insects and pests in food preparation areas
• Poor hygiene practices
• Improper storage of perishable food
• Failure to meet mandatory food safety requirements

Authorities stressed that closure is only used as a last resort after businesses fail to respond to warnings and corrective notices. The crackdown comes as consumers continue to report food safety concerns across the emirate.

What happens next?

Closed establishments are only allowed to reopen once inspectors confirm all violations have been addressed and food safety standards are fully met.

The authority said regular inspections and surprise visits will continue across restaurants, cafeterias, supermarkets and food outlets to help protect public health.

Officials also encouraged residents to report suspected violations and check food safety ratings displayed under the emirate’s Zadna Assessment programme before dining or shopping.