Dubai and Abu Dhabi urge hotels to extend stays: Who pays the costs?
Authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have requested that hotels extend the stays of guests who are unable to leave due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This coordinated effort aims to protect international visitors who are affected by travel disruptions, according to Gulf News.
The guidelines require hotels to prioritize the well-being of guests, ensure continuity of accommodation, and avoid asking for the release of rooms if tourists are unable to leave the country or cannot immediately cover the costs of extending their stay.
Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism has issued an official directive to hotel managers, urging them to allow affected guests to extend their stay under the same conditions as their original booking.
This measure aligns with government directives that aim to provide full support and assistance to international visitors amid the current situation.
According to the publication Emarat Al Youm, quoted by news.ro, hotels have been asked to fully cooperate to ensure that tourists who cannot leave are accommodated without interruption. Officials emphasized that guests should not be forced to vacate rooms if they cannot pay the additional costs immediately, reflecting a broader focus on consumer protection and visitor welfare.
Hotel operators have been instructed to promptly notify the department in such cases, providing details about the length of the original booking, the extension period, and any operational difficulties encountered.
In a similar response, Abu Dhabi authorities confirmed that the government will cover accommodation costs for stranded guests. The Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi issued a circular to hotels stating that accommodation establishments must extend guests' stays until they are able to leave.
“Given the current circumstances and the fact that some guests have reached their check-out date but are unable to travel for reasons beyond their control, we kindly ask you to extend their stay until they are able to depart,” the document states. The letter further specifies that “the cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi” and requests hotels to submit invoices directly to the department.
It is important to note that major tensions in the Middle East have seriously disrupted air traffic, leaving some Moldovans stranded in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, or other countries in the region where airspace has been closed. Currently, travelers from Israel can take a bus to Egypt, from where they can catch a flight.
Moldova 1 journalists have spoken with people on vacation in Dubai who are now unable to return home. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs crisis cell in Chisinau is monitoring the situation, and authorities have reiterated their call for calm, vigilance, and responsibility.
