During a sitting of the Dubai Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council – set economic support packages in motion for the emirate. Several landmark decisions were approved, including for businesses, its workforce, artists, Emirati families, and its global positioning.
The AED 1 billion stimulus programme is scheduled to take effect from 1 April 2026, running over three to six months.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said: “Dubai has earned a reputation for credibility, transparency, and trust among businesses and investors worldwide, and stands ready to meet any challenge through the determination of its people and the strength of its inclusive society.”
Relief across hospitality, trade, and residency
The financial relief measures have been primarily targeted at the sectors most sensitive to cash flow constraints. Hotels will be permitted to defer 100% of their sales fees and Tourism Dirham contributions for three months, offering a lifeline for an industry that drives a significant part of Dubai's service economy. For businesses deal in international trade, customs data grace periods will be extended from the current 30 days to 90 days, with the possibility of further extension, provided companies remain fully compliant with applicable tax legislation.
Most significant for Dubai's talent economy is the improvement and streamlining of residency permit issuance and renewal processes, with the measure looking to improve and ease talent recruitment and attraction.
A game-changer for Dubai's cultural ambitions?
Among the approvals, the Virtual Warehouses Initiative confirmed Dubai's longer-term ambitions as a global cultural and creative hub. Overseen by Dubai Customs and building on the existing Art Flow pilot programme, the initiative will – in its first phase – facilitate the temporary import of artwork, exempting the imports from customs duties and financial guarantees.
The scheme also removes geographical restrictions, simplifies time extensions, and introduces virtual digital copies of artworks to enable continuous high-tech tracking. Businesses in the art segment now have more concrete facilitation to incorporate into market entry planning.
Overall, Sheikh Hamdan's framing of the moment was forward-looking, saying that the UAE is "well-positioned for a better future" and has established "a global benchmark for cities built upon clear vision and sound policy."
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Today, I chaired a meeting of The Executive Council, where we approved an AED 1 billion support package for Dubai’s business sector, to be rolled out from 1 April over the next three to six months. The measures are designed to strengthen the economy's resilience, readiness and… pic.twitter.com/ZBKYGBGppA
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) March 30, 2026