Khaleej Times - Hotels in Dubai have been requested to support guests impacted by the recent airspace closures, according to authorities. In a statement to Khaleej Times, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) confirmed that the safety and welfare of citizens, residents, and visitors is the country’s highest priority.

“Hotels have been requested to support affected guests by facilitating extensions to stays under existing booking conditions,” the statement read. “The DET is working closely with tourism partners and suppliers to support visitors and to ensure the continued safety, stability, and functioning of services across the city.”

Thousands of tourists and transit passengers were stranded in the UAE after the closure of its airspace due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war and the regional escalations. To support them, over 15,000 visas were issued to those who needed it. The country’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) also announced that the state will cover all accommodation and sustenance costs for affected and stranded passengers.

According to DET, the situation is being carefully followed. “The UAE Government is closely monitoring developments and taking all necessary measures to protect the public,” the statement noted.

“The situation in the country is stable, with public services continuing to operate. Relevant authorities are coordinating closely and monitoring developments on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of all.”

Flight services

On Monday, select flights were allowed to operate and later the country announced the opening of an air corridor which will allow airlines to operate 48 flights per hour- a move that experts said will allow for a controlled passenger traffic and reduce backlogs.

“Emirates and FlyDubai have confirmed that a limited number of flights are operating from the evening of March 2, with services being restored in a phased manner,” the DET statement noted. “Visitors and partners are encouraged to refer to official UAE government channels and relevant airlines for the latest information and updates.”

DET said that it was confident about Dubai’s resilience in this situation. “Dubai has a strong and proven track record of managing periods of global disruption with agility and coordination, consistently prioritising care of citizens, residents and visitors, while maintaining world-class service standards,” the statement concluded.

“This integrated approach across government and private sector partners enables the city to respond quickly and effectively.”