The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism DET has awarded 237 hotels in the third cycle of its Dubai Sustainable Tourism DST Stamp, recognising their sustainability efforts across environmental, social and governance ESG practices
The total marks a 55% increase from the 153 hotels recognised in the previous cycle and more than triples the 70 hotels awarded when the programme launched in 2023.
This year’s recipients include 22 Gold, 92 Silver and 123 Bronze awards, with hotels assessed against DET’s 19 Sustainability Requirements, covering areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, responsible sourcing, employee engagement and climate action. Assessments were carried out by independent third-party assessors, with the final results approved by a senior jury committee. Awards are valid for one year.
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, said: “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.
The strong increase in the number of hotels meeting the criteria for recognition in this latest cycle of the Dubai DST Stamp shows the commitment with 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. We congratulate the latest certified hotels and encourage every hotel in Dubai, whether recognised this year or not, to continue to embrace a culture of sustainability.”
The DST Stamp forms part of DET’s wider sustainability strategy, supported by initiatives including the Carbon Calculator and the Dubai Sustainable Tourism course on the Dubai Way platform. Further enhancements to the programme are expected in future cycles.
The full list of the latest Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp recipients is published here.