Dubai has officially welcomed its first tourists in almost four months while adhering to the highest global safety standards and measures.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and CEO and founder of the Emirates Group, said on Tuesday that all measures taken were in line with international protocols in order to continue to protect residents and visitors alike.
Starting today, Dubai is all set to welcome visitors from around the world with the highest standards of health and safety, in line with international protocols. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/PfQPdVU0qg
— HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (@HHAhmedBinSaeed) July 7, 2020
Holidaymakers touched down on the warm shores of the emirate at Dubai International Airport just after midnight on July 7. Arriving from a variety of destinations including London, Cairo, and Amsterdam, passengers were welcomed in true Dubai hospitality with open arms and red carpet treatment.
This comes after the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) gave official recognition to Dubai as being a safe destination and following up by issuing the city with a Safe Travel stamp. This is all as a result of intensive planning, measures, and research from UAE’s leadership, government, and tourism sector stakeholders as well as Dubai Airports, Emirates Airlines, and FlyDubai. This is affirmed when tourists and visitors arriving in Dubai receive a special stamp on their passports reading: ‘A warm welcome to your second home’.
On Tuesday, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, personally toured Dubai International Airport to confirm that it was ready and safe to receive tourists.
“I … followed up on the various precautionary measures that are applied to ensure the health and safety of travelers and to ensure the safety of our community,” he commented via Twitter.
خلال جولة ميدانية، تفقدت اليوم الاستعدادات في مطار دبي الدولي لاستقبال السياح، وتابعت مختلف الإجراءات والتدابير الاحترازية التي يتم تطبيقها لضمان صحة وسلامة مختلف المسافرين وتأمين سلامة مجتمعنا. pic.twitter.com/vguKPDap4O
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) July 7, 2020
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) have posted socially distanced travel procedures on their Instagram for travelers to view. Recent posts show videos of tourists taking relevant precautions including the wearing of masks and gloves, and being discreetly screened by thermal scanners on arrival to ensure they comply with all necessary measures as they move through immigration and into the city.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCWQYynl1Hx/
Last year Dubai welcomed a staggering 12 million visitors according to official figures and this new move to welcome tourists back will re-energize the second half of 2020 and take tourism into a new phase.
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