The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) government has issued a statement promising to cover the food and accommodation costs for stranded tourists in hotels across the country, following Iran's military strikes on US bases in the region.
Iran's retaliatory strikes came after the United States and Israel launched what they called "major combat operations" against Iran, which led to the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a number of senior officials, and a large number of civilians. Iran's retaliatory attacks have targeted Israel and U.S. facilities across the region, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The UAE government issued a notice to hotels on Sunday, stating that given the current special circumstances, some tourists, although past their original check-out date, are unable to leave the country due to force majeure. The statement requests all hotels to extend the stay of these guests until they can leave the country smoothly, noting that the relevant costs will be borne by the government.
Previously, the UAE News Agency issued a statement saying that due to the large-scale cancellation of flights, the closure of airports nationwide, and the blockade of airspace, the UAE General Authority of Civil Aviation would be responsible for paying for the food and accommodation costs of thousands of stranded tourists.
Chinese tourists stranded in Abu Dhabi told China Media Group reporter that they were pleasantly surprised to receive assistance from the UAE government.
"It was quite unexpected, because logically it shouldn't be provided by them; it's more like an extra service for tourists. An announcement from the UAE Department of Culture and Tourism said that stranded people can be provided with free accommodation until flights resume. The hotel provides three meals a day, and daily laundry service. We saw it on Ctrip; it's a four-star hotel, one of the better chain hotels recommended by the platform," said a Chinese tourist.
UAE to provide free accommodation, food to stranded tourists following Iranian attacks
