Covid-19: Dubai Tourism closes 4 establishments and issues final warnings to 19 more

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has closed four establishments, suspended the permits of 14 more and issued final warnings to another 19 companies for non-compliance with Covid-19 precautionary measures across all tourism touchpoints within the emirate, it confirmed on Sunday.

A statement carried by the Dubai Media Office on Sunday said that the Dubai Tourism inspectors have adopted a zero-tolerance approach while monitoring the implementation of health and safety protocols outlined by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.

Detailed guidelines have been set for both government and private sector establishments in each industry, including the hospitality, retail, tourist attractions, leisure, entertainment, and F&B sectors.

@dubaitourism stressed on the need to preserve & build on the gains made by the Gov’t of Dubai as part of its strategy to restart various sectors in a phased manner & eventually bring back normalcy while further enhancing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s safest destinations

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 13, 2020

In addition to wearing masks at all times and maintaining social distancing, the frequent sterilisation of facilities at hotels and other establishments are mandatory. Also, all hotel employees need to undergo regular testing and have their temperature checked several times a day. Entrances to hotels are to be fitted with equipment for contactless screening of guests too.

Dubai Tourism said that it was communicating with stakeholders, providing them guidance, insights and industry updates to help them comply with necessary guidelines. It added that adhering to these guidelines is critical to ensure business continuity and to regain growth momentum.

In July, Dubai launched the ‘DUBAI ASSURED’ stamp to certify that hotels and retail establishments, F&B outlets and all tourism facilities adhere to the necessary Covid-19 preventive measures.

Read: New ‘DUBAI ASSURED’ stamp to confirm health protocols at hotels, restaurants and tourist establishments

The stamp is issued free of charge, and is valid for 15 days. It can be renewed every two weeks upon further verification by inspectors from the relevant authorities.

Dubai began welcoming tourists to the emirate from July 7, with national airlines having since then resumed direct flights to several international destinations.

The emirate also received The Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council which certifies that it has implemented stringent hygiene and safety protocols that are aligned with international standards and best practices.

The UAE has reported 1,007 new Covid-19 cases on September 12, its highest daily increase in new infections since the virus outbreak was first recorded in the country.

As of September 13, the total infections across the UAE have risen to 79,489.

The UAE government has also issued an updated list of penalties for those found flouting Covid-19 safety regulations.

The fines, beginning at Dhs1,000, and scaling up to Dh50,000, include a Dhs1,000 fine for retaking a Covid-19 test within a fortnight without a valid reason and a Dhs5,000 fine for companies that fail to properly clean and sterilise equipment used in food production.

Read: UAE issues updated list of fines for offenders of Covid-19 safety measures