● Courses unveiled during Arabian Travel Market 2026 provide tourism and hospitality professionals with practical guidance to build sustainability knowledge and improve operational performance
● The ‘27 Measures of Sustainability’ course supports hotels in understanding and implementing the updated requirements, complementing wider learning through the new Dubai Sustainable Tourism course
● Both courses will be delivered by Dubai College of Tourism through the Dubai Way platform
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 16 September 2026: The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched two new sustainability courses, expanding practical training for tourism and hospitality professionals as the city continues to embed responsible practices across the visitor economy. Developed under its 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 equip participants with the knowledge and practical guidance needed to integrate more sustainable practices into their operations.
Announced at this week’s Arabian Travel Market 2026, the launch of the two new courses reflects the city’s continued focus on confidence and long-term sector development at a time when the global travel industry is navigating a complex environment. It also reinforces Dubai’s commitment to responsible growth, contributing to broader clean energy targets and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) 2030, and the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure.
Education is central to DST’s approach to advancing sustainable tourism, complementing its work across Standards, Awards and Programmes. The two courses build on this foundation by providing tourism and hospitality professionals with practical knowledge and guidance to embed sustainability into daily operations and strengthen performance across the sector.
The 27 Measures of Sustainability framework aligns with the evolution of DST’s approach to embedding sustainability across Dubai’s hospitality sector, building on the foundations established by DET’s existing 19 Sustainability Requirements, which have underpinned the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp award programme since its launch in 2023. The updated framework increases the number of mandatory measures from 19 to 27, broadening the scope of environmental and social performance expected of hotels, and further integrating sustainability into day-to-day operations. From future cycles, hotels will be assessed against the 27 Measures as part of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp, reinforcing the programme’s role in setting the benchmark for responsible hospitality in Dubai.
To support its rollout and adoption, the 27 Measures of Sustainability course takes participants through the updated framework, providing practical guidance to help hotels understand what has changed, translate the requirements into action and apply them across areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, responsible sourcing, employee engagement, guest awareness, community initiatives and climate action.
The Dubai Sustainable Tourism course introduces key sustainability principles, including responsible resource consumption, waste management and circular practices, climate action and the role of the hotel industry and Green Teams in supporting a sustainable tourism ecosystem. Together, the courses combine framework-specific guidance with broader sustainability knowledge, helping tourism and hospitality professionals strengthen operational practices and contribute to Dubai’s wider sustainability ambitions.
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.”
Since its launch in 2017, Dubai Way, DCT’s online training and engagement platform, has trained more than 190,000 candidates and delivered over three million training hours, with more than 1,475 establishments enrolled, underlining its role in building capability across Dubai’s tourism workforce. Combining self-paced video lessons, interactive activities and assessments, the platform supports continuous professional development and the delivery of high-quality visitor experiences.
Combined, the two courses complement DST’s wider suite of tools and initiatives, including the DST Carbon Calculator, which helps hotels track and reduce emissions while identifying cost savings, giving hotels practical knowledge to embed sustainability into daily operations and empowering Green Teams and sustainability champions to drive progress within their organisations. This sector-wide investment in expertise reflects the collaborative approach underpinning Dubai’s tourism industry and supports DET’s ambition to build a future-ready and globally competitive tourism ecosystem, aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy, the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The new courses build on the growing momentum of Dubai’s sustainability agenda. In July 2026, DET recognised 237 hotels in the third cycle of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp, a 55% increase on the 153 hotels honoured in the previous cycle and more than triple the 70 hotels recognised when the programme launched in 2023.
Further enhancements to Dubai Sustainable Tourism’s education, tools and sector programmes will continue to be introduced in line with Dubai’s wider sustainability ambitions, reinforcing the city’s position as a trusted global destination for responsible hospitality and sustainable tourism, as the sector continues to demonstrate confidence and forward momentum.