UAE Covid vaccine: Abu Dhabi hotel staff receive jab

Hundreds of hospitality employees working in Yas Island hotels have chosen to vaccinate as part of Abu Dhabi’s efforts to ensure a safe reopening to tourists and a safe hosting of the recent UFC Fight Island Triple Header event.

More than 240 people working inside the UFC Fight Island ‘bubble’ hotels on Yas Island received their first dose of the vaccine, via an initiative to provide free vaccine to staff. The initiative was launched in line with Abu Dhabi’s coordinated and collaborative response to Covid-19, the emirate-wide ‘Choose to Vaccinate’ campaign and the nationwide immunisation programme.

The vaccination drive for hotels on Yas Island will add an extra level of safety for visitors wanting to experience Abu Dhabi’s rich and diverse mix of cultural, leisure and entertainment attractions. The drive also complements the protocols already in place across the emirate, including the ‘Go Safe’ certification initiative, which enforces global health and safety practices across the emirate’s hotels, malls, attractions and public places, which was led by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

“Abu Dhabi has shown its commitment to the highest standards of health and safety and ability to host large-scale international events during a pandemic with the previous two editions of UFC Fight Island in recent months,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi.

“The safe and successful return of fans to live events at UFC Fight Island Triple Header showcased the hard work and collaboration of government departments, public and private sectors and UFC to make it possible.

Abu Dhabi is open; Abu Dhabi is safe. This vaccination drive for hospitality staff, who are the face of Abu Dhabi and work tirelessly to uphold the emirate’s standing as a world-class leisure destination, will help reassure visitors that they are in a safe and secure environment and reaffirm our efforts to press forward with our tourism plans, guided by the country’s visionary leaders.”

Fahad Al Mahmoud, Executive Director Stakeholder Management at Aldar, who was one of the 240 to receive the vaccine, said: “The tourism sector is a vital pillar of our economy and this vaccination drive will ensure we continue to play our part in supporting the hospitality industry’s reopening in a responsible and safe way. We truly hope everyone will choose to vaccinate to protect their health and the health achievements of our nation, and to accelerate our ability to host flagship events across the emirate safely.”

In December, DCT Abu Dhabi announced the reopening of the emirate to tourism, as well as a gradual return to event hosting, with strict guidelines in place that ensure the safety of the wider community.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com