Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched two new sustainability courses designed to strengthen practical training for tourism and hospitality professionals as the emirate continues to embed responsible practices across its visitor economy.
Developed under the
Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) initiatives and delivered by Dubai College of
Tourism (DCT) through the Dubai Way platform, the 27 Measures of Sustainability
and Dubai Sustainable Tourism courses will provide industry professionals with
knowledge and practical guidance to integrate sustainable practices into daily
operations.
The courses were
announced at Arabian Travel Market 2026, highlighting Dubai’s continued focus
on long-term tourism sector development and responsible growth. The initiative
supports the emirate’s broader clean energy ambitions, the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) 2030 and the objectives of the Dubai
Economic Agenda, D33, which seeks to strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading
global destination for business and leisure.
Education forms a key
part of DST’s sustainability strategy, complementing its wider work across
standards, awards and programmes. The new courses are intended to help tourism
and hospitality professionals understand sustainability principles and apply them
across operational areas, strengthening sector-wide performance.
A central component is
the updated 27 Measures of Sustainability framework, which builds on DET’s
existing 19 Sustainability Requirements. The original requirements have
underpinned the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp award programme since its
introduction in 2023.
The updated framework
raises the number of mandatory measures from 19 to 27, expanding expectations
around environmental and social performance across Dubai’s hotels. The measures
cover areas including energy and water efficiency, waste management, responsible
sourcing, employee engagement, guest awareness, community initiatives and
climate action.
Hotels will be
assessed against the 27 Measures as part of future cycles of the Dubai
Sustainable Tourism Stamp. The updated course is designed to support the
transition by explaining the new requirements and providing practical guidance
on how hotels can implement them across their operations.
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: “The 27 Measures of Sustainability framework
represents a significant step forward in how we define sustainable hospitality
in Dubai. By expanding on our original 19 Sustainability Requirements, it sets
a higher benchmark for environmental and social performance and will underpin
future cycles of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp, ensuring the award
continues to reflect the highest standards of responsible tourism. The launch
of these two courses ensures hotels and tourism professionals have the
knowledge and confidence to apply the updated requirements from day one,
supporting a smooth transition to the new framework. Through continued
collaboration with industry, we are collectively advancing Dubai’s wider
sustainability ambitions.”
The Dubai Sustainable
Tourism course takes a broader approach, covering responsible resource
consumption, waste management, circular practices and climate action. It also
examines the role of the hotel industry and Green Teams in supporting a
sustainable tourism ecosystem.
Together, the two
courses combine framework-specific training with wider sustainability
education, enabling professionals to strengthen operational practices while
contributing to Dubai’s sustainability objectives.
The courses are being
delivered through Dubai Way, DCT’s online training and engagement platform.
Since its launch in 2017, Dubai Way has trained more than 190,000 candidates,
delivered over three million training hours and enrolled more than 1,475 establishments.
The platform combines self-paced video lessons, interactive activities and
assessments to support continuous professional development across Dubai’s
tourism workforce.
The new training also
complements other DST tools, including the DST Carbon Calculator, which helps
hotels monitor and reduce emissions while identifying potential cost savings.
The tools are designed to provide hotels with practical resources to integrate
sustainability into everyday operations and empower Green Teams and
sustainability champions to drive initiatives within their organisations.
The latest measures
form part of Dubai’s broader sustainability agenda, aligning with initiatives
including the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy, the Paris Agreement and the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The programme has also
recorded growing participation from Dubai’s hotel sector. In July 2026, DET
recognised 237 hotels in the third cycle of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism
Stamp, representing a 55% increase from the 153 hotels recognised in the
previous cycle and more than three times the 70 hotels recognised when the
programme launched in 2023.
DET said further
enhancements to Dubai Sustainable Tourism’s education, tools and sector
programmes will continue to be introduced in line with the emirate’s wider
sustainability ambitions, supporting the development of a future-ready and
globally competitive tourism ecosystem. -TradeArabia News Service