In response to the current situation with flight cancellations and delays, the authorities of the two largest emirates of the UAE — Dubai and Abu Dhabi — have decided to implement emergency support measures for foreign tourists. This was reported by the BELTA news agency.
According to the directives from the Department of Economy and Tourism, hotels are recommended to extend the stay for those visitors who have encountered problems due to changes in flight schedules. Hotels must provide this option while maintaining the conditions specified in the original booking. Meanwhile, the UAE government will cover the costs associated with the extension of stay.
“This initiative is part of the government policy aimed at fully supporting foreign citizens in light of the escalating situation in the Middle East,” the official statement said.
The situation worsened after the US and Israel conducted an operation against Iran on February 28, resulting in airspace being closed to aircraft from Israel, Iran, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. As a result, airlines were forced to cancel some flights, leaving many tourists in a difficult situation abroad.
