June 24th 2020

Combating coronavirus: Dubai businesses that are set to reopen from May 27

Cinemas, gyms, retail stores, clinics and recreational venues will open but by following social-distancing rules.

Dubai has announced bold steps to reopen business activities starting Wednesday, it was announced on Monday. Business activities will resume in the emirate from 6am to 11pm and there will be no restrictions on movement between 6am and 11pm.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, announced the gradual reopening of business activities in Dubai from the fourth day of the Eid Al Fitr during a remote meeting of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.

“We urge all concerned entities in Dubai to intensify awareness efforts and ensure that everyone, at organisational and individual levels, adheres to the precautionary measures and guidelines to protect the well-being of our society” he said in a tweet on his official account.

“We understand the pressure experienced by numerous sectors due to the Covid-19 crisis, but the UAE community remains strong. We are able to positively adapt to the current changes, due to the flexibility that characterizes many of our sectors”, Sheikh Hamdan added.

Cinemas, gyms, retail stores, clinics and recreational venues will open but by following social-distancing rules.

1-Retail stores and wholesale outlets
2-Airport to facilitate transit passengers and travellers to other destinations.
3-Clinics, including ENT departments
4-Training institutes and treatment centers for children.
5-Sports academies, indoor gyms, and fitness and health clubs
6-Cinemas, maintaining social distancing and sterilisation
7-Recreational venues like Dubai Mall Ice Rink and Dolphinarium
8-Government services centres

General rules

-All businesses authorised to operate should abide with new sterilisation timings.

-Everyone should wear a mask at all times.

-Everyone should always maintain a two-metre social distance.

-All passengers arriving in the country should adhere to a 14-day quarantine.

-Children under 12, people over 60 and those with chronic diseases are not allowed to enter shopping centres, cinemas, gyms and educational institutes.

-Sterilisation must continuously be carried out and only single-use utensils allowed.

-Violators of rules and guidelines will be fined, according to the type of violation.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) also held a virtual meeting with key aviation and hospitality partners to discuss current and post-pandemic strategies and joint initiatives aimed at ensuring the tourism industry’s gradual return to normalcy. The meeting also discussed global efforts to minimise the transmission of Covid-19 and precautionary measures deployed to safeguard the health of communities across the UAE.

As part of overall efforts to create a positive perception and a conducive environment aimed at instilling confidence among travellers who plan to visit Dubai, the meeting also looked at various precautionary measures that have been implemented, both at a citywide level and across specific sectors including tourism, which represent critical touch points for visitors and residents during their stay. One of the key priorities from a marketing perspective is to emphasise the safety and security that Dubai provides, and the clear stringent health and safety protocols issued by the Dubai Health Authority based on international standards and best practices aimed at containing the contagion. The meeting also discussed the mechanism to ensure adherence to the guidelines, practical solutions to scan and monitor passengers at Dubai International Airport and the effective management of contact tracing in compliance with privacy standards, following the resumption of air travel.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said: “Dubai International Airport is prepared to welcome visitors as soon as airports around the word start reopening and pave the way for a phased resumption of air services. As health and hygiene standards will play an influential role in encouraging people to travel, we have put in place a set of health and safety protocols at our airports including all necessary quarantine arrangements and the implementation of sanitisation and disinfection measures to reassure tourists that Dubai is one of the safest destinations to visit. We will also continue to receive incoming flights from select destinations, operate cargo flights, as well as flights to repatriate expatriates and guests to their home destinations.”