Hotels in Dubai are now allowed to be fully occupied, after the emirate eased several Covid-19 restrictions on Monday (May 17).
Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management also announced several new measures for events and activities, initially for a trial period of one month.
Live entertainment and activities are now allowed in restaurants, cafés and shopping malls.
Precautionary measures must observed, such as social distancing and face masks, and performers and entertainers must have had the Covid-19 vaccine.
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All entertainment facilities and venues can have an increased capacity of 70%, while hotels are now free to raise occupancy to 100%.
The maximum number of people allowed to sit on a single table at restaurants has been increased from seven to 10, while bars can re-open, provided all customers and staff have received the Covid-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Abu Dhabi will lift its quarantine rules for travellers, with the new policy coming into effect on July 1.
The capital of the United Arab Emirates currently requires 10 days of quarantine unless travellers are arriving from one of 22 countries on its green list.
Travel Weekly’s sister title Connecting Travel reported that the new system will be similar to the system currently in place in Dubai and the PCR protocols will differ for high-risk and low-risk destinations.
Those coming from countries with higher infection rates will have to undergo two tests – one before they travel and another upon their arrival in Abu Dhabi, said Connecting Travel.
Abu Dhabi currently requires individuals to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival unless they arrive from a country on the green list.
The list, which comprises 22 countries, will expand to include more destinations in the run-up to July 1.
The Telegraph reported comments from Ali Al Shaiba, executive director of tourism and marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi, who said: “While the UK is already on Abu Dhabi’s green list, meaning Britons are free to enter, the whole of the UAE is currently on the UK’s red list, with direct flights banned and all arrivals required to spend 10 days in hotel quarantine.”
The UAE was added to the British government’s red list in January.
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