Dubai’s tourism authority has directed hotel operators to extend stays for guests unable to depart and to ensure no evictions take place. The instruction asks hotels to keep original booking conditions and to report unpaid extensions to the authority.
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Directive to hotels
The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) issued a formal circular to hotel managers asking properties to extend the stay of guests affected by suspended, delayed or cancelled flights. The circular emphasized that guests who cannot depart should be offered extensions under the same terms as their original bookings.
“We kindly request your cooperation in ensuring that hotel guests who were due to check out but are unable to do so as a result of these circumstances are offered the option to extend their stay under the same conditions as their initial booking,” the email from DET read. “It is important that no guests are evicted under these circumstances.”
Stay extensions
Hotels were asked to hold room rates and conditions for the additional nights until guests can depart. The directive states explicitly that “no guests are to be evicted” in these exceptional circumstances. This comes as over 1,500 flights have been cancelled across the region due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Several UAE airlines have suspended all flights to and from the UAE until Monday.
Reporting and payments
The DET instructed hotels to notify the department immediately if a guest is unable to cover the cost of an extended stay. Hotels must provide details including the guest’s original length of stay, any extension dates and whether a third party is covering costs.
“All our hotels are full for now,” said Mohamed Rafi, Chief Executive Officer of Flora Hospitality. “DET has instructed us to extend the highest level of support for travellers. We also have an internal policy to never increase prices during such situations and not evict a tourist in case they are unable to pay.”
Abu Dhabi support
The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT) issued a separate circular directing hotels to extend stays and confirming the emirate will cover additional accommodation costs. Hotels were asked to submit invoices to DCT for reimbursement via a dedicated channel.
Regional travel disruption
Flight suspensions and widespread cancellations across the region prompted the directives. Multiple UAE airports and carriers adjusted operations as airspace and safety conditions evolved, leaving some travelers unable to depart on their scheduled dates.
The communication to hotels said: “We kindly request your cooperation in ensuring that hotel guests who were due to check out but are unable to do so as a result of these circumstances are offered the option to extend their stay under the same conditions as their initial booking.”
