Letter claims Abu Dhabi offers free hotel stay amid travel restrictions

A viral letter purportedly from Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism claims stranded hotel guests can extend their stay free of cost amid travel restrictions.

Though the authenticity of the document remains unverified. Authorities are yet to issue an official clarification.

The letter which was attributed to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has gone viral on social media, claiming that stranded hotel guests in the emirate will be allowed to extend their stay at no additional cost due to travel restrictions.

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The letter states that guests who have reached their checkout date but are unable to travel “for reasons beyond their control” should be permitted to remain in their hotels until departure is possible. It adds that the cost of the extended stay would be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi, with invoices to be sent to an official email address.

The viral document surfaced amid reports of travel disruptions and heightened regional tensions, prompting widespread discussion online.

The letter stated that the gesture is in pursuant to the No 8 of 2018 establishing the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) with a mandate to develop the tourism industry in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.