HH Sheikh Hamdan approves Dh1 billion support package for Dubai’s business sector
His Highness 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, and Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, has approved Dh1 billion ($272.2 million) in economic incentives for the emirate’s business sector, effective 1 April 2026.
The package, approved at a meeting of Dubai’s Executive Council chaired by Sheikh Hamdan, runs for three to six months and is designed to ease financial pressure on businesses and improve liquidity across key sectors.
In practical terms, the measures mean businesses can defer a range of government fees for three months. Hotels and hospitality operators get relief on sales fees and the Tourism Dirham.
Importers and exporters benefit from an extension of customs data grace periods, up from 30 to 90 days with scope for further extension. Residency permit processing is also being streamlined to reduce friction for businesses hiring and retaining talent.
The announcement was accompanied by strong economic data. Dubai’s GDP grew 5.4% in 2025 to exceed Dh937 billion, with the fourth quarter alone recording 6.4% growth. The Executive Council also approved an updated methodology for measuring the emirate’s GDP, expanding survey scope and statistical coverage for greater accuracy.
Beyond the business package, the same meeting approved three additional initiatives. The Virtual Warehouses Initiative simplifies temporary import procedures into Dubai. The Dubai Empowerment Strategy, supervised by the Community Development Authority, targets financial stability and employment for Emirati families, building on a programme that has already supported 1,200 young Emiratis and created more than 7,000 jobs.
A Health and Safety Strategy for Workers’ Accommodation sets a 2033 target of full compliance across all workers’ housing with international labour standards.
The package arrives as Dubai’s tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors navigate a period of regional uncertainty following the outbreak of conflict involving Iran in late February. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday that the country was operating with “complete efficiency.”