24x7 oversight by Dubai Tourism ensures full Covid compliance

274 violations recorded, 47 facilities shut down since the New Year

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has aligned with local authorities to ensure establishments in the tourism industry are fully implementing precautionary measures on Covid-19.

Following the New Year’s Eve celebrations, Dubai Tourism conducted nearly 10,000 inspections of hotels and recreational facilities. In all, 274 violations were recorded and 47 facilities closed, marking a compliance rate of 89 per cent.

Round-the-clock joint inspections are run with Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality and the Department of Economic Development (Dubai Economy), especially at places that attract crowds. Penalties for violations range from fines to warnings, suspension of permits and closure of the facility.

Focus on tourism touchpoints

Dubai Tourism has increased inspections to ensure that hotels and establishments across tourism touchpoints — retail, leisure, attractions and events — are complying with wideranging health and safety protocols outlined by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management. New measures were extended until the beginning of Ramadan in mid-April. The rules cover activities related to malls, hotel establishments, swimming pools and private beaches at hotels, required to operate at 70 per cent capacity. Indoor venues, including cinemas and sports venues will continue to operate at 50 per cent of maximum capacity while pubs and bars will remain closed.

Abu Dhabi has included Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan and Morocco in its updated ‘green list’ of countries, regions and territories from where passengers will be exempt from quarantine after landing in Abu Dhabi. They will only be required to take a PCR test at the airport.

The updated list now includes 13 destinations from

10 on February 21. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) clarified that the green list only applies to where passengers have arrived in the UAE from, not their citizenship.

Inclusion on the list is subject to strict criteria of health and safety to ensure the well-being of the UAE community, it added.