ESAAD isn't a card you can buy. It's invitation-only — Dubai Police staff, government employees, and as of 2026, a small group of private-sector employers giving it as a benefit to their teams. If you've been handed one, you're in a fairly small club. Here's what's actually inside.

Format: App + website (iOS, Android, esaad.dubaipolice.gov.ae) Offers: Thousands across the UAE plus partner facilities in 90+ countries worldwide Cost (May 2026): Free — but invitation/eligibility-based. Originally built for Dubai Police staff and government employees, the programme has expanded gradually. As of 2026 a small circle of private-sector companies has also been authorised to issue ESAAD as an employee benefit to their staff. If you have it, consider yourself lucky — it isn't openly available to the general public. Activation is via UAE Pass once invited.

How to redeem:

1. Activate your Esaad invite through UAE Pass on the website or app

2. Browse partner facilities in the Esaad app by category, city or country

3. At the partner outlet, show your Esaad digital card before paying

4. Discount is applied to the bill

5. For online partners, enter the Esaad code at checkout

The best of ESAAD:

Esaad is Dubai Police's privilege programme — a card with a quietly cult-like reputation among the people who qualify for it. Once you're in, the digital card unlocks discounts across thousands of UAE partners (hotels, restaurants, retail, healthcare, education, amusement parks) plus partner facilities in 90+ countries worldwide for when you travel. Eligibility is the hard part: it was originally reserved for Dubai Police and government staff, and in 2026 a small group of private-sector employers has been authorised to offer it to their employees as a benefit — meaning if your company gives you Esaad, you're in a fairly small club. Everything after that is just remembering to open the app before you pay. The Dubai Police line on it — "Your security, our happiness" — doubles as the marketing line: the offers are among the most generous in the country, and they're handed out by one of the most trusted institutions in the UAE.

That's ESAAD in a nutshell — eligibility is the hard part; once you have it, the offers do the heavy lifting. The catch isn't whether it's worth it. It's whether you'll remember to use it. Because ESAAD is one of 9 to 12 offer platforms the average UAE resident already has on their phone.

Nobody opens 5 apps before dinner in Dubai. Nobody. That's exactly why most UAE residents leave AED 4,000–5,000 a year on the table — not on offers they need to find, but on offers they already have. Emirates NBD, FAB, Mashreq, Fazaa, Esaad, IHG, Marriott Bonvoy, sometimes the restaurant's own app. All sitting on your phone. Most of them forgotten before the bill lands.

The UAE doesn't have a discount problem. It has a time and remembering problem.

DiscGo is one app to check the cards, memberships and platforms you already have, right before you pay — or in advance. At launch we cover 16 of the most-used platforms in the UAE — including Esaad — with 50+ on the roadmap. No card numbers. No bank logins. Pick what you have, see what's near you.

→ Download DiscGo free on iOS and Android

Source: DET Gastronomy Industry Report 2023; DiscGo offer database, April 2026.

What is the ESAAD card? ESAAD is a privilege card issued by Dubai Police that gives holders access to thousands of discounts across UAE partners — hotels, restaurants, retail, healthcare, education, entertainment — plus partner facilities in 90+ countries worldwide.

Who is eligible for ESAAD? ESAAD was originally reserved for Dubai Police staff and government employees. As of 2026, a small group of private-sector companies has also been authorised to issue ESAAD as an employee benefit. It is invitation-based — there is no public sign-up.

How do I apply for ESAAD? You can't apply for ESAAD directly as a member of the public. Eligibility comes through your employer (government or one of the authorised private-sector companies) or through Dubai Police affiliation. Once invited, you activate your card via UAE Pass on the ESAAD website or app.

What benefits does the ESAAD card offer? The card unlocks discounts across thousands of UAE partner outlets in dining, hotels, retail, healthcare, education, and entertainment, plus selected partners in 90+ countries internationally. The discount range varies by partner but is widely considered among the most generous in the country.

Can private companies give ESAAD to employees? Yes — as of 2026, a small circle of private-sector employers has been authorised to issue ESAAD memberships to their staff as an employee benefit. The list is not public, so the only way to find out is to ask your HR team directly.