The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has recognised a record 237 hotels through the latest cycle of its Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) Stamp, marking a significant jump in the number of properties meeting the city’s sustainability standards.
That’s up from 153 hotels in the previous cycle and just 70 when the programme launched in 2023.
More Hotels, More Green Credentials
The latest awards were divided into three tiers: 22 Gold, 92 Silver and 123 Bronze.
To qualify, hotels are assessed against 19 sustainability requirements covering areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, responsible sourcing, employee engagement, guest awareness, community initiatives and climate action.
And this isn’t simply a case of hotels ticking a few boxes themselves. The assessment process involves independent third-party assessors, with results then reviewed by a senior jury committee.
Hotels that receive the DST Stamp retain their rating for one year, encouraging properties to keep improving rather than treating sustainability as a once-off achievement.
What Does This Mean for Travellers?
For visitors, the programme provides another way to identify hotels that are actively working on their environmental and social impact.
It also reflects a wider shift in the travel industry, where sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of the holiday experience. Travellers are paying more attention to how hotels manage resources, reduce waste and engage with their surrounding communities.
DET is also supporting hotels through initiatives including a Carbon Calculator, which helps properties monitor emissions and identify potential savings, as well as sustainability training through the Dubai Way platform.
Dubai’s Bigger Sustainability Push
The DST Stamp forms part of Dubai’s broader strategy to move towards a more resource-efficient and lower-carbon tourism sector while supporting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
With the number of recognised hotels now more than three times higher than when the programme began, sustainability is clearly becoming a bigger part of Dubai’s hospitality landscape.
The Scene Feed Take
Dubai has long sold travellers a story of luxury, but increasingly, the destination is trying to show that luxury and sustainability can share the same address. The growing number of hotels earning the DST Stamp is a positive sign for travellers who want their next stay to feel good in more ways than one.
For anyone planning a Dubai getaway, sustainability credentials could soon become just as worth checking as the pool, breakfast buffet and Instagrammable lobby.