Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has awarded 153 hotels with the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) Stamp in the initiative’s second cycle, marking a 118% increase from the 70 hotels recognized in its inaugural edition. The initiative underscores the city’s commitment to sustainability and its ambition to establish itself as a global leader in eco-friendly tourism.
Launched in July 2023, the DST Stamp recognizes hotels that meet the ‘19 Sustainability Requirements,’ covering energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and staff engagement. The awards are categorized into gold, silver, and bronze tiers, with 18 hotels receiving gold, 64 earning silver, and 71 securing bronze. Notable gold-tier recipients include Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal, Jumeirah Al Qasr, and Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa.
The winners were announced at an exclusive ceremony on February 26 at Atlantis The Royal, where industry leaders highlighted the importance of sustainability in the hospitality sector. Yousuf Lootah, CEO of Corporate Strategy and Performance at DET, emphasized the initiative’s role in aligning Dubai’s tourism sector with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy.
“The success of this initiative is a testament to the city’s visionary leadership and underscores our strategic commitment to transforming the hospitality sector into a global benchmark for sustainable tourism,” said Lootah.
Industry leaders, including executives from Atlantis Dubai, Jumeirah Al Qasr, and Grosvenor House, reiterated their commitment to sustainable practices, emphasizing their alignment with Dubai’s long-term environmental goals.
The DST Stamp is valid for one year, encouraging continuous sustainability efforts. The initiative complements other DET-led projects such as the Carbon Calculator platform, which assists hotels in managing carbon consumption, and Dubai Can, a movement that has eliminated over 30 million single-use plastic water bottles since 2022.
Aligned with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the DST initiative aims to expand green spaces, increase public beaches, and enhance Dubai’s environmental sustainability footprint. Hotels that did not receive the DST Stamp this year are encouraged to improve their sustainability measures to qualify in future cycles.
