UAE to cover hotel and meal costs for stranded travelers

Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

Airports across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have suspended operations following Iran’s attacks, leaving more than 20,000 passengers stranded, according to the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). To address the problem, the government has decided to cover all accommodation and meal costs for affected travelers, Euronews reported.

Hotels in Abu Dhabi received an official notice from the Department of Culture and Tourism instructing them to extend guests’ stays if they are unable to leave due to the situation. The department said it would cover the cost of the additional nights.

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism issued similar guidance, asking hotels to allow guests to extend their stays under the same booking terms. Hotels have been told to notify authorities if guests cannot pay for the extra nights.

After the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran carried out retaliatory strikes across the region. As a result, nearly all major airports across the UAE suspended operations. Dubai Airports halted flights at both Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) after one concourse at DXB was damaged and four airport staff members were injured on March 1.

Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi has also suspended flights. Authorities said debris from a drone interception on the same day killed one person and injured seven others.

Several airlines have paused services. Etihad Airways said flights will remain suspended until 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, while Emirates will not operate until 3 p.m. the same day. Airports in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah are also closed until further notice.

The disruption extends beyond the UAE. Airports in Qatar, Kuwait and other countries in the region have also halted operations, with many airlines canceling or rerouting flights due to security concerns.

Meanwhile, Kaspi.kz, Kazakhstan’s major e-commerce ecosystem, launched a special financial support program for Kazakhstanis facing travel disruptions due to the situation in the Middle East.