Here’s Some Good News For Hotels In Abu Dhabi

Properties have been sent guidelines that will allow hotel facilities in the capital to open soon.

It’s looking good for Abu Dhabi’s leisure sector as hotel restaurants, bars, lounges, beaches, pools and gyms are included in the new guidelines that hotel properties have been sent, allowing them to safely reopen.

The move comes after hotels have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hotels will only be able to reopen once DCT has inspected and confirmed that all the necessary measures are firmly in place.

The guidelines outline ‘readiness assurance requirements’ that cover social distancing rules, crowd control measures and rules for returning employees.

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The times that such outlets can open will be limited to between 6 am and 7 pm. All facilities must be sterilised on a regular basis, hand sanitisers must be at the facility entrance, there must be clear, separate entry and exit points and all hotels must have thermal cameras installed, in co-operation with the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority system.

Hotels are also required to have an isolation room for any suspected Coronavirus cases and a medical team on standby. Masks must be worn at all times, too.

His Exellency Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, executive director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The guidelines set out stringent criteria for the hotels to follow, which our inspectors will confirm with on-site visits. Once these high standards of health and safety are met, DCT Abu Dhabi will approve the reopening, and trading can resume.

“We are adamant that both hotel staff and visitors should be 100 percent confident in their own safety, as we start the resumption of ‘normal’ activities since the pandemic situation arose.”

Returning employees must have a COVID-19 test before being allowed back to work and then bi-weekly thereafter. Temperature checks will also be carried out on all staff on a regular basis throughout their shifts and will receive training for dealing with emergency COVID-19 situations.