Amid rising tensions in the Middle East and widespread flight disruptions, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) has instructed hotels across the emirate to allow stranded guests to extend their stays, with the government covering the extra costs.
In a circular dated February 28, 2026, sent to hotel general managers, the department acknowledged that some visitors had reached their scheduled check-out dates but were unable to depart due to circumstances beyond their control.
The directive follows increased regional instability that has disrupted flight operations and led to temporary travel restrictions in parts of the Middle East.
DCT clarified that neither hotels nor guests would be responsible for the financial burden of the extended stays. The department stated that it would bear the cost and asked hotels to submit related invoices to a designated email address.
To ensure smooth coordination, contact details for the department’s business continuity team were also shared for operational support. The move has been widely welcomed on social media, with many praising it as a proactive measure to ease the impact of travel disruptions on visitors and the hospitality sector.
The order was issued under Law No. 8 of 2018, which established DCT Abu Dhabi and grants it authority to regulate and support the tourism industry.
In a similar step, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism directed hotel operators to allow affected guests to extend their stays under the same terms as their original bookings. Hotels were also instructed to promptly notify the department, providing details of the original reservation, the extended period and any operational challenges encountered.
