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The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) recently unveiled its latest move toward environmental responsibility: The ‘Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp’. These unique emblem reward hoteliers committed to the highest echelons of sustainability, underlining Dubai’s position as a premier global destination for eco-conscious travellers.

This move was orchestrated in sync with the UAE Year of Sustainability and formed part of DET’s broader commitment to fortifying Dubai’s status as a model sustainable tourism hub. The stamp comes from a joint venture with Dubai’s hospitality industry, demonstrating a unified push toward the tourism sector’s sustainability objectives and supporting the broader NetZero 2050 initiative.

The ‘Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp’ will symbolise a hotel’s unwavering commitment to sustainable operations, illustrating the property’s green practices. The granting of the stamp hinges on the hotel meeting DET’s 19 rigorous Sustainability Requirements. Amongst these are strict energy and water efficiency standards, waste management, and staff engagement and education initiatives. High-ranking industry professionals will oversee the accreditation process to maintain the credibility of this significant commendation, which is based on international best practices.

The recognition programme consists of three levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Hotel establishments have been invited to submit applications for the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp from 3rd to 31st August 2023.

Yousuf Lootah, Acting CEO of the Corporate Strategy and Performance sector at DET, said, “This initiative echoes the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as the world’s preeminent sustainable tourism destination. The ‘Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp’ is a testament to environmental stewardship and excellence, aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda 2033.”

Mr Lootah elaborated that the high-standard criteria of the award encourage hotels to embrace sustainable practices that benefit not just their businesses but the broader community and the world. He emphasised the strategic role of the initiative in establishing Dubai as the go-to destination for global travellers in search of a genuinely sustainable experience.

The initiative also complements the city’s preparations to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), the UN Climate Change Conference, slated for 30th November to 12th December 2023.

DET’s sustainability roadmap also encompasses forward-thinking initiatives like the Carbon Calculator, a tool designed to help stakeholders identify cost-saving opportunities and transition smoothly to sustainable practices. One of these initiatives, ‘Dubai Can’, advocates for reusable bottles and urges residents to refill them. Since its inception in February 2022, the ‘Dubai Can’ initiative has markedly reduced the usage of single-use plastic water bottles equivalent to more than 10 million 500 ml units. Furthermore, it has facilitated the installation of 50 water fountains across the city.