The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) hosted a record-breaking City Briefing on 3 June at the Dubai Opera, drawing more than 1,700 leaders from tourism, aviation, hospitality, retail and events to align on strategy and chart the city's course for the second half of 2026.
Held under the direction of DET Director General H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, the gathering reinforced operational continuity and accelerated delivery of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The briefing covered three pillars: the industry's coordinated response to regional developments, demonstrated resilience across the tourism sector, and a forward-looking roadmap of events and infrastructure milestones.
Dubai's response to recent regional developments was swift and structured. Contingency frameworks were activated immediately, aviation partners Emirates and flydubai rerouted flights to maintain connectivity, and real-time guidance was pushed to operators through the Dubai Info Hub. The Government of Dubai also announced an AED 2.5 billion support package to protect business continuity, preserve employment and sustain the visitor experience.
The briefing also highlighted the strength Dubai carried into 2026, including record international visitation in 2025, 6.4% GDP growth in Q4 2025, and 95.2 million passengers through Dubai International Airport. Hotels, restaurants and the wider F&B sector mobilised through initiatives including Dubai Restaurant Week and Dubai, A Fine Way to Dine to maintain footfall and commercial activity.
Looking ahead, Dubai Summer Surprises returns in July with retail promotions, dining offers and family entertainment, while the Dubai Fitness Challenge marks its 10th edition in October. Infrastructure progress continues with the approved 42-kilometre Gold Line metro expansion and the ongoing USD 35 billion buildout of Al Maktoum International Airport.
The briefing closed with a unified commitment from across the sector to sustain growth and advance the D33 Agenda.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
