https://economymiddleeast.com/: The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has recognized 237 hotels in the third cycle of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) Stamp for their outstanding commitment to sustainability and responsible hospitality practices.

Marking a 55 percent increase on the 153 hotels honored in the second cycle and more than triple the 70 hotels recognized when the program launched in 2023, the growth underlines the Dubai hospitality sector’s commitment to responsible, sustainable tourism, while supporting the UAE’s international commitments to sustainable development, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Guided by our city’s visionary leadership, the DST Stamp was introduced in 2023 to champion sustainable practices and set new benchmarks for excellence in environmental stewardship, simultaneously contributing towards meeting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goals,” said Yousuf Lootah, CEO of Corporate Strategy and Performance at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Head of the DET Environmental Sustainability and Social Responsibility Committee.

Dubai adopts systematic approach to sustainability across hospitality sector

The third cycle of the sustainability award program concluded with 22 Gold, 92 Silver and 123 Bronze awards presented to hotels that demonstrated excellence in meeting DET’s Sustainability Requirements. The criteria span environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas, including energy and water efficiency, waste management, responsible sourcing, employee engagement, guest awareness, community initiatives and climate action.

The significant growth in the number of recognized hotels reflects an increasingly systematic approach to sustainability across Dubai’s hospitality sector, with hotels embedding these requirements into day-to-day operations, while advancing Dubai’s broader environmental, economic and tourism ambitions.

“The strong increase in the number of hotels meeting the criteria for recognition in this latest cycle of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp shows the commitment at which Dubai’s hospitality sector is embedding sustainability into everyday operations. The continued success of this initiative and the commitment to meeting DET’s 19 Sustainability Requirements also reflects the power of collaborative efforts across the public and private sectors, which continue to propel growth across the wider hospitality sector,” added Lootah.

Hotels that submitted for the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp were subject to a comprehensive assessment process conducted by independent third-party assessors, with the final results reviewed and approved by a senior jury committee to ensure transparency, consistency and adherence to DET’s 19 Sustainability Requirements.

Awarded hotels retain their tier for one year, encouraging the continuous improvement and long-term sustainability across Dubai’s hospitality sector.

DET accelerates tourism sector’s transition towards resource-efficient future

By recognizing hotels that meet DET’s 19 Sustainability Requirements, the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp provides travelers with a trusted, independently verified benchmark for responsible hospitality while strengthening the competitiveness of Dubai’s tourism sector.

Hotels that were not recognized in this cycle are encouraged to build on their progress and participate in future editions, as the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp program continues to grow year on year and extend its reach across the emirate.

The Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp forms part of DET’s wider sustainability strategy to accelerate the tourism sector’s transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient future. To support hotels in meeting these ambitions, DET provides practical tools and training that help embed sustainability across the sector. These include the Carbon Calculator, which enables hotels to track and reduce emissions while identifying cost savings, and the Dubai Sustainable Tourism course on the Dubai Way platform, delivered by the Dubai College of Tourism to build sector-wide expertise.

Together, the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp and these supporting initiatives help hotels strengthen their sustainability performance while advancing Dubai’s wider tourism and economic ambitions.