Abu Dhabi Shares Guidelines For Reopening Hotels

by Vaishnavi Venkataraman
Abu Dhabi Shares Guidelines For Reopening Hotels

The Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi rolled out a detailed list of guidelines ahead of reopening restaurants, lounges, bars, beaches, pools and gyms. All hotels and gyms in the emirate were closed as a precaution to combat Covid-19. However, businesses will resume as soon as approval is granted from DCT Abu Dhabi. In order to obtain permission, Abu Dhabi hotels must complete all measures outlined by the DCT.

Here are some of the guidelines Abu Dhabi hotels must follow:

Restricted Working Hours

Hotels in the emirate will be permitted to be open only from 06:00 until 19:00. In addition, entry and exit points must be defined clearly, all areas must be sanitized and hand sanitizers must be placed at the entrance. Further, all hotels must also have thermal scanners installed at the entrance.

Medical Support

All hotels must have an emergency isolation room, to quarantine suspected patients. Further, masks and gloves are compulsory for all visitors. Hotels must encourage visitors to use ‘smart’ payments as a preferred method to reduce contacts and contamination.

“As per our mandate to support and guide the tourism sector in Abu Dhabi in all aspects, the set of measures we have shared with our hotel partners will ensure that not only will they be able to resume trading at the earliest opportunity, but that when they do they will be following guidelines which will keep all members of the community safe and secure,” said Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi.

Seating Restriction

Hotels must permit only four people per table, with 2.5 metres between each table. All venues will be permitted only a 30% capacity. As well as restaurants and bars must hang a sing outside, indicating the maximum number customers already inside.

No entertainment activities of any kind will be allowed, and visitors will only be allowed to visit the facilities for a maximum of 3 hours.

In addition, employees will also have to test for Covid before being allowed back to work. Temperature check will be conducted regularly for all staff and they will also be taught emergency response protocols for Covid.