Expats And Visitors Stranded In Dubai Airport Get First-class Treatment

opens up airport hotels to passengers caught in the UAE’s grounding of all commercial flights.

The UAE’s sudden ban on all commercial flights took place late last month, leaving dozens of expats and travellers stranded at Dubai’s international airport. Many were in transit through Dubai to other destinations, with a few forced to sleep in the transit lounge for several nights. However, the airport continued to support specific repatriation flights, providing those with seats already confirmed with accommodation and meals in Dubai Airport hotels.

Some 600 passengers were affected by the sudden closure of all services, with an unlucky number arriving after the UAE’s restrictions on entry to the state were published. Others couldn’t continue with their flights to other destinations due to lockdowns of destination airports as well as the UAE’s ban on flights. The airport has now announced that significant efforts have been made as regards repatriation of stranded passengers, adding that necessary health checks have been given to expats and visitors arriving in the UAE as well as placing them under 14 days’ quarantine.

According to Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airport, those caught up in the chaos have been given support and welfare as well as food, drink and accommodation where necessary in order to make sure all were properly taken care of. These circumstances, he added, are unprecedented, and it’s essential that the facility ensures all those stranded for whatever reason have the necessary levels of attention and care, especially as regards repatriation either to the home country on an onward destination.