74 Abu Dhabi hotels provide free stays for 7,000 stranded travellers

More than 70 hotels across Abu Dhabi have extended complimentary stays for 7,000 stranded travellers unable to depart amid the ongoing regional disruption. The response follows a directive from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), which confirmed it will cover the additional accommodation costs. 

 

Authorities said the provision of complimentary accommodation ensures passengers affected by scheduling changes due to the UAE’s closed airspace were “accommodated in comfort”. 

 

In total, 74 hotels and more than 8,000 rooms have been made available for this purpose, coordinated by DCT Abu Dhabi in collaboration with local hospitality partners.

 

Affected travellers have also been provided with other complimentary services under the UAE government’s directive to cover all expenses for passengers impacted by flight cancellations, rerouting and schedule changes. These include shuttle services, refreshments, hospitality, medical care and retail vouchers to “support passenger wellbeing” during this transition.

 

RELATED:

Emirates to operate 100 flights from Dubai on 5-6 March

UAE to cover costs for stranded travellers amid flight disruptions

Gulf flight suspensions: latest updates – Thursday 5 March

 

Qatar Tourism has also confirmed it will cover the costs of extended hotel stays and meals for travellers stranded in the country.

 

While Qatar’s airspace remains closed, the UAE has begun a phased reopening, allowing limited flight operations to resume at select airports. Authorities said up to 48 flights per hour are now permitted, with between 200 and 300 repatriation flights planned via national carriers to assist approximately 45,000 stranded travellers.

 

As of 5 March at 12:00 local time, operations have resumed at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, with Etihad Airways reopening bookings for select repatriation flights on 4 and 5 March. 

 

Meanwhile, Emirates, which resumed limited services from DXB on the evening of 2 March, said it will operate more than 100 flights to and from Dubai between 5 and 6 March, confirming that these are “open for booking” and will “accommodate customers with earlier bookings as a priority”. 

 

For the latest on flight disruptions and suspensions, click here.