The UAE government in Abu Dhabi and Dubai has committed to covering the accommodation costs of travellers trapped in the country, due to the airspace closures and cancelled flights.
The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi and the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai have directed hotels to extend stays for guests unable to travel due to flight disruptions, the official Emirates News Agency, WAM, reported on March 3, following a UAE government media briefing.
“In light of the current circumstances and given that some guests have reached their check-out date but are unable to travel for reasons beyond their control, you (accommodation establishments) are kindly requested to extend their stay until they are able to depart. The cost of the extended stay will be covered by Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi,” the DCT said in a letter to hoteliers.
At the briefing, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, confirmed the measure to support affected visitors, stating that the Emirates Tourism Council had collaborated with embassies and diplomatic missions to create an operational plan to assist stranded travellers through coordinated flights and support services including accommodation and transport.
