he Department of Culture and Tourist (DCT) Abu Dhabi has released a number of health, safety and hygiene guidelines for hotels to adhere to to safely resume operation of facilities including bars, restaurants, lounges, beaches, pools and gyms at Abu Dhabi hotels.
Under the new measures, the capacity of facilities must not exceed 30%, all staff and customers must wear masks and gloves, thermal cameras and sterilising equipment installed and hand sanitisers should be available at the entry of all areas. In restaurants, there must be a distance of 2.5 metres between tables, and the number of diners cannot exceed four per table.
Additionally, staff should all undergo a COVID-19 test before returning to work, partake in bi-weekly COVID-19 tests and expect multiple temperature checks throughout their shift. Facilities will also be required to adjust their opening times to within the timings of 6am to 7pm.
Hotels must adhere to the new guidelines and be granted approval from DCT Abu Dhabi to then be permitted to reopen.
Since the end of March, food and beverage outlets, public spaces and attractions across the capital have been closed in a bid to help curb the spread of COVID-19. However over the last few weeks, the emirates have slowly begun reopening to guests.
In Dubai, restaurants were permitted to begin welcoming guests for dine-in, malls reopened their doors and salons resumed hair and nail services from the end of April under phase one of a four-phase plan to reopen the emirate. In the second phase, beaches at hotels reopened from May 12. As of May 24, licensed restaurants resumed alcohol service.
Source: Conde Nast Traveller