Dubai’s GDRFA unveils new ALSAADA Tourist card

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has launched the ALSAADA Tourist Card, which offers exclusive privileges, discounts, and promotions to tourists visiting Dubai.

The discount card will be distributed free of charge to tourists upon their arrival in Dubai.

The ALSAADA Tourist Card pack will be distributed to all tourists at passport counters at Dubai International Airport.

Tourists will be asked to scan a barcode using their smartphones to download the ALSAADA Tourist app from the Android or Apple store.

The sectors covered under the ALSAADA Tourist Card programme include: travel and tourism, restaurants, health and beauty, banks and exchanges, vehicles, technology and communications, malls and fashion, online shopping, home essentials, entertainment, retail and weddings and events.

The ALSAADA Tourist application carries many features that will help users easily locate and access nearby offers, find them through a classification and search feature, and review offers availed through the application.

Once launched, the app will prompt the user to enter their passport number and date of arrival in order to generate a smart card under the tourist’s name.

The app will also provide users access to the full list of promotions and discounts offered by ALSAADA card partners. The card expires once the tourist leaves the city. Tourists can get a new card upon their next visit to Dubai.

سعادة سامي القمزي، مدير عام اقتصادية دبي، بحضور سعادة اللواء محمد المري مدير عام إقامة دبي، يطلق “بطاقة السعادة للسياح” التي ستمكن السياح القادمين عبر منافذ إمارة دبي من الحصول على بطاقة خصومات مجانية أثناء فترة إقامتهم في الإمارة. #إقامة_دبي#جيتكس2020#أسبوع_جيتكس_للتقنية pic.twitter.com/MUVSAHm22W

— GDRFA DUBAI إقامة دبي (@GDRFADUBAI) December 10, 2020

Major General Mohamed Ahmed Al-Marri, director general of the GDRFA, launched the card at the recently concluded 40th edition of GITEX Technology Week.

“The UAE has demonstrated the resilience of its tourism sector, the success of its business model and its ability to ensure business continuity across various sectors. The UAE also enjoys a global reputation for its safety, security, stability, economic growth and logistical and digital infrastructure, all of which combine to make it one of the world’s most-preferred travel and lifestyle destinations,” said Al-Marri.

In July, Dubai opened up to allow tourists to visit the emirate once again following several months of closures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’re looking forward to seeing aggressive growth coming once things normalise towards the year-end,” Al Marri said at the time.

In related tourism news, the UAE launched its first federal domestic tourism campaign on Saturday as it seeks to increase the contribution of domestic tourism in the national economy.