For expat residents who keep hearing about the Fazaa card from colleagues and want to know if they can actually get one: who qualifies, the free 2026 family membership open to resident families, how to apply, and what the card really gets you.
Most expats can get a Fazaa card in 2026 in one of two ways. The first is free: resident families with at least one child can claim a free Fazaa Discount membership under the “Year of the Family 2026” initiative, valid until the end of 2026. The second runs through your employer: regular membership is limited to employees of entities that have an agreement with Fazaa, mainly the Ministry of Interior and other government and semi-government bodies, and you need your employer’s company code to sign up.
This guide is based on Fazaa’s own FAQ, benefits and Family Year pages, its membership portal, and official statements reported when the family initiative launched in March 2026. Fazaa does not publish its paid tier prices, and we say so where that matters.
What Is the Fazaa Card?
Fazaa is a membership program that gives discounts and member services to employees of the Ministry of Interior and of government and semi-government entities that have signed a memorandum of understanding with Fazaa (Fazaa, FAQ). Fazaa says it has more than 1,500,000 members across the UAE.
Members show the card (in the Fazaa app or as a physical card) at a partner outlet to get the agreed discount. Partners are free to choose the form of the offer, such as a percentage off, buy one get one free, or a fixed special price. If a partner has several branches, Fazaa requires the discount to apply at all of them (Fazaa, Partners FAQ).
Is Fazaa the Same as Esaad?
No. Esaad is a separate discount program run by Dubai Police for Dubai Police staff, government entities and selected semi-government and private entities with an agreement. Gulf News reported 482,000 Esaad beneficiaries across 526 entities in July 2024, and eligibility is checked with your Emirates ID on the Esaad registration page (Gulf News, September 2024). Some employees qualify for both. The free family offer described below is a Fazaa initiative only.
Can Expats Get a Fazaa Card?
Yes, through two routes. Which one fits you depends on your family and your employer.
| Route | Who qualifies | Tier | Cost and validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of the Family 2026 initiative | Resident families in the UAE with at least one son or daughter | Discount membership | Free; expires at the end of 2026 |
| Employer membership | Employees of the Ministry of Interior and of government or semi-government entities with a Fazaa agreement; Hemam and Frontline members | Platinum, Gold, Silver or Discount, depending on the entity and the plan you choose | Shown at the subscription step of sign-up; Fazaa does not publish prices |
Sources: Fazaa, Family Year Initiative 2026; Khaleej Times, 15 March 2026; Fazaa, FAQ.
Fazaa’s FAQ also lists Emiratis working in the private sector as eligible. An expat working for a private company that has no Fazaa agreement cannot use the employer route, and Fazaa’s membership portal states plainly that registration “is limited to specific companies and not open to the public” (Fazaa membership portal). For most private-sector expat families, the 2026 family initiative is the only way in.
The Free Fazaa Membership for Resident Families (2026)
Fazaa and the Ministry of Family announced the initiative in March 2026, as part of the UAE’s “Year of the Family 2026” (Khaleej Times). Fazaa’s initiative page sets out four membership levels, and the one for resident (non-Emirati) families is the Discount membership (Fazaa, Family Year Initiative 2026):
| Family Year membership | Who it is for (as listed by Fazaa) |
|---|---|
| Platinum | Large families with four or more children, or families that include a Person of Determination |
| Gold | Small families with one to three children |
| Silver | Newly formed Emirati families |
| Discount | Resident families |
The page has separate application links for Emirati families and resident families. The Platinum and Gold levels sit on the Emirati side; a resident family with four children, or with a child of determination, is still offered the Discount membership. Families with a Person of Determination can read about other support in our guide to disability support in the UAE.
The Eligibility Rules
- A resident family with at least one son or daughter. A married couple without children does not qualify (Khaleej Times).
- One membership per family. Either the husband or the wife can apply (Gulf News, March 2026).
- Free of charge. No fee applies at any step.
- Valid only for 2026. The membership remains valid throughout the Year of the Family and expires at the end of the year. Fazaa has not said whether it will be extended into 2027.
How to Apply (Resident Families)
- Open the resident application form. Go to the Family Year Initiative page on fazaa.ae and choose “Resident Family – Apply Here”, which opens the form at misc.fazaa.ae/residents-family-year.
- Enter your details exactly as on your Emirates ID. When we checked on 4 October 2026, the form asked for your full name as written on the ID, your mobile number as registered in the ID system, your email address and your emirate. Use the mobile number linked to your Emirates ID; a different number is the easiest way to fail verification. If your number has changed, see our guide to Emirates ID renewal and updates.
- Accept the declaration and submit. You confirm the information is correct and agree to the terms and conditions.
- Wait for the approval email. At launch, Fazaa said applications were approved within 72 working hours, with confirmation sent by email (Gulf News).
- Activate the digital card in the Fazaa app. Download the Fazaa app and log in with the membership number and password you receive (Fazaa, FAQ). The card lives in the app.
The form has changed since launch. In March 2026, Gulf News reported a longer form that asked for the Emirates ID numbers of the applicant, the spouse and a child, plus uploads of all three IDs. Keep those ready in case Fazaa asks for them during verification.
If Your Application Is Stuck
The Fazaa website slowed sharply in the first days after launch as families rushed to register (Gulf News, March 2026). If you hear nothing after a week, call the Fazaa hotline on 600520003 (Fazaa, FAQ). Fazaa assigned a dedicated support team at its call center to help with activating the digital cards (Khaleej Times). Do not submit a second application from your spouse’s details; the offer is one membership per family.
Getting Fazaa Through Your Employer
If you work for the Ministry of Interior, or for a government or semi-government entity that has signed with Fazaa, you can register as a regular member. Fazaa’s membership portal takes you through three steps (Fazaa membership portal):
- Company code: enter the code for your employer. Ask your HR department for it; without a valid code the form will not proceed.
- Personal information: your details as an employee of that entity.
- Subscription: choose your membership plan. This is where the price of each tier is shown.
You can upgrade later from the “my account” area of the website or the app (Fazaa, FAQ). Fazaa also issues a clearance certificate on request through its website, which members leaving a participating employer may be asked for.
What Each Fazaa Card Tier Includes
Fazaa’s benefits page lists what each tier unlocks (Fazaa, Benefits). The free family membership is the Discount tier, the left-hand column below.
| Benefit | Discount | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offers and discounts at partner outlets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fazaa Store discounts (food and consumer products) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fazaa Amakin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hotels and travel packages | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daily car rental | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fazaa Health | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fazaa Used Cars | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Long-term car lease | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Platinum exclusive offers | No | No | No | Yes |
In practice, the Discount tier already covers the services most families use: partner discounts, the Fazaa Store, hotels and travel, and the entertainment vouchers. What a resident family does not get is Fazaa’s used-car sales and its long-term car leasing.
The Headline Numbers
When the family initiative launched, Fazaa and the Ministry of Family said members get discounts at more than 34,000 retail outlets inside and outside the UAE, on more than 28,000 food and consumer products through Fazaa Stores, on accommodation and travel packages at more than 500,000 hotels worldwide, and up to 70 percent off tickets and entertainment through the Fazaa app (Khaleej Times).
What the Discounts Look Like in Practice
Most offers are a fixed percentage at a named partner. On 4 October 2026, the Fazaa homepage listed, among others, up to 50 percent at a dental clinic and an optician, 20 percent at a hotel spa, 15 percent at a nursery, and voucher prices for family attractions:
| Voucher listed on fazaa.ae (4 October 2026) | Fazaa price |
|---|---|
| Madame Tussauds Dubai, standard admission | AED 64 (listed against AED 150) |
| IMG Worlds of Adventure | AED 129 |
| Legoland Dubai, Legoland Water Park or Motiongate (Dubai Parks and Resorts) | AED 179 each |
| National Aquarium and Butterfly Garden | AED 105 |
| Al Ain Zoo, child entry | AED 5 |
Voucher prices and partners change often, so check the app before you plan a day out around one. For families, the biggest regular saving is usually on groceries; compare Fazaa Store prices with our guide to the cheapest supermarkets in the UAE before you switch your weekly shop.
How to Use the Card at a Partner
- Show the card before you pay. Partners are told to ask for the Fazaa card (Platinum, Gold, Silver or Discount) and apply the offer when it is shown (Fazaa, Partners FAQ).
- Carry your Emirates ID for medical providers. The Fazaa card is normally the only document needed, but hospitals and medical centers may also ask for your Emirates ID.
- Family members can benefit. Fazaa asks its partners to accept the discount for the member and first-degree relatives: father, mother, wife, children and siblings. This is a request to partners rather than a guarantee, so a family member shopping alone without the card may be refused.
- Read the partner’s own terms. Each partner sets its terms and conditions, which appear on its offer page in the app. Exclusions on sale items or combined promotions are common.
Is the Fazaa Card Worth It for Expats?
If your family qualifies for the free 2026 membership, yes: it costs nothing and takes a few minutes, and the savings add up quickly: at the October 2026 voucher price, a family of four saves AED 344 on Madame Tussauds tickets alone. The catch is the short life. A membership obtained in October lasts under three months, and there is no published plan for 2027.
If you are single, or a couple without children, working for a private company without a Fazaa agreement, you have no route in. Bank card programs and paid discount apps fill the same gap; our guide to the best cash back credit cards in the UAE compares the ones that pay back on everyday spending. For a fuller picture of where family money goes, see our breakdown of the cost of living in Dubai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can expats get a Fazaa card?
Yes. Resident families with at least one child can claim a free Fazaa Discount membership for 2026 under the Year of the Family initiative. Outside that, expats qualify only if they work for the Ministry of Interior or a government or semi-government entity that has an agreement with Fazaa.
Is the Fazaa card free?
The Discount membership for resident families is free during 2026. Regular memberships through an employer are offered in Platinum, Gold, Silver and Discount tiers, and the price is shown at the subscription step of sign-up; Fazaa does not publish it.
Who is eligible for the free Fazaa family membership?
Families living in the UAE with at least one son or daughter. Only one membership is issued per family, and either the husband or the wife can apply. Fazaa lists higher tiers for Emirati families; resident families get the Discount membership.
How do I apply for the free Fazaa membership as a resident?
Open the Family Year Initiative page on fazaa.ae, choose the resident family application, and enter your name as on your Emirates ID, the mobile number registered to your ID, your email and your emirate. After approval by email, activate the digital card in the Fazaa app.
When does the free Fazaa membership expire?
At the end of 2026. It was issued for the Year of the Family and remains valid until the end of that year. Fazaa has not announced an extension.
Can I get a Fazaa card if I work in the private sector?
Only through the 2026 family initiative, unless your employer has an agreement with Fazaa. Fazaa’s membership portal says regular registration is limited to specific companies and needs a company code. Its FAQ also lists Emiratis in the private sector as eligible.
Can my family use my Fazaa card?
Fazaa asks partners to give the discount to the member and first-degree relatives, including the spouse, children, parents and siblings. Partners decide at the counter, so it is safest for the cardholder to be present or for family members to have their own access.
What is the difference between Fazaa and Esaad?
They are separate programs. Fazaa centers on Ministry of Interior and partner government employees and now resident families; Esaad is run by Dubai Police for its staff and for government and partner entities. Each has its own eligibility check and partner network.
What is the Fazaa hotline number?
Fazaa’s hotline is 600520003, per its FAQ page. Use it if your family membership has not been approved after a few working days or the digital card will not activate.
Official Sources
- Fazaa: Family Year Initiative 2026 (membership levels by family type, application links)
- Fazaa: Resident family application form
- Fazaa: Member and partner FAQ (eligibility, app login, upgrade, hotline, how discounts apply)
- Fazaa: Benefits by membership tier
- Fazaa: Membership portal (company code registration)
- Khaleej Times: Fazaa and Ministry of Family announcement, 15 March 2026
- Gulf News: How UAE families can apply for free Fazaa membership, March 2026
Information current as of October 2026. The application form fields and voucher prices were checked on fazaa.ae on 4 October 2026. Fazaa does not publish prices for its paid tiers.
This guide is for informational purposes only. UAE regulations and fees are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant official authority before proceeding with any application or transaction.
