Qatar joins UAE in covering extended stays for hotel guests

Qatar Tourism has followed the UAE in saying it will cover the cost of extended hotel stays and meals for guests stranded in the country following the closure of regional airspace.

The Gulf state, a key transit hub connecting Europe and Asia, is currently accommodating about 8,000 passengers in transit after the start of US-Israeli attacks on Iran on 28 February. 

In a circular issued to hotel managers on 2 March, Qatar Tourism requested hotels to extend stays for guests unable to depart until airport operations resume. The authority confirmed it will “cover the additional costs incurred, as the safety, security and wellbeing of all visitors remain among our highest priorities”. 

The decision follows similar measures introduced earlier by the UAE, where more than 20,200 passengers have been affected by flight cancellations and scheduling changes. On 1 March, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said the state would bear “all hosting and accommodation costs for affected and stranded passengers”. 

Tourism authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have since issued directives instructing hotels to accommodate travellers unable to leave. Abu Dhabi Tourism asked hoteliers to submit invoices directly to the department for processing, confirming that the “cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi.”

Meanwhile, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) contacted hotels to “support affected guests by facilitating extensions to stays under existing booking conditions". 

Picture credit: Shutterstock/Q World