Ras Al Khaimah hotel staff tested for Covid-19 before busy Eid Al Adha weekend

The emirate’s hospitality sector is gearing up for one of the busiest few days of the year

Staff spray the lobby of a hotel in Ras Al Khaimah with disinfectant. Antonie Robertson / The National

Free Covid-19 tests are being provided for all hospitality staff in Ras Al Khaimah ahead of the Eid Al Adha break.

Tourism chiefs said the move was to protect workers and enhance safety for hotel guests.

“Ongoing testing for hospitality staff is an important step to reaffirm that the emirate has taken extensive measures to prioritise the safety and well-being of guests,” said Raki Phillips, chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism authority.

The screening programme at 45 hotels was co-ordinated by the emirate’s Tourism Development Authority with the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority.

Hotels have been inspected to check they are abiding by strict guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Regular inspections have been conducted by hotel management alongside independent assessments by Bureau Veritas, a global inspection organisation.

The emirate’s hospitality sector was certified as safe by Bureau Veritas and awarded a Safe Travels Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council.

“Our industry has been resilient in the face of challenging times, and we have unveiled a series of strategies, from the Tourism Support Initiatives to earning recognition as the first safe city worldwide and the first safe emirate to be certified by Bureau Veritas and the World Travel and Tourism Council, respectively,” Mr Phillips said.

“These measures ensure that our sector partners can continue to operate successfully as we enter the ‘new normal’.”

Mahra bin Sray, a field examination officer at Ras Al Khaimah Medical District, said regular Covid-19 testing was necessary to curb infections.

Hotel bookings across the emirate and the rest of the UAE are expecting to soar as residents gear up for a long weekend break for Eid Al Adha.

Public and private-sector staff will receive a four-day holiday, starting on Thursday, July 30. They will return to work on Monday, August 3.