Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has launched the "Dubai Access Club," described by officials as the world's first city-led, invitation-only tourism membership programme. Its headline benefit is a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for members, alongside complimentary room upgrades at partner hotels.

Membership is granted only by invitation, through the loyalty programmes of select multinational partners. Emirates airline, Accor hotels and Visa are among the founding corporate partners, while the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai and the Department of Economy and Tourism are the government partners behind the scheme.

Beyond the visa and hotel upgrades, members gain access to the "Alsaada" tourist card with its own set of privileges and promotions, a Majid Al Futtaim gift card for shopping, airport lounge access, and early booking windows for major city events. Exact membership costs were not disclosed in the official launch.

Issam Kazim, chief executive of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said the launch "stands as a compelling testament to the city's commitment to innovation in tourism." The initiative extends Dubai's recent push to attract long-term visitors and investors by easing residency rules and bundling in exclusive lifestyle perks.