UPFRONT
HOTEL UPDATE
UAE, Qatar and Bahrain finally moved from UK Red List THE UAE, QATAR AND BAHRAIN have been
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moved from the UK’s Red List to its Amber List. The new rules, which eliminate the need for all travellers from these countries to complete a mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine on arrival to the UK, were announced on August 4 by the UK’s Secretary of State of Transport, Grant Shapps. “UAE, Qatar, India and Bahrain will be moved from the Red List to the Amber List. All changes come into effect Sun 8th August at 4am,” Shapps tweeted. “While it’s right we continue our cautious approach, it’s great news to open more destinations for people wanting to connect with families, friends and businesses across the globe, all thanks to our successful domestic vaccination programme.” Amber List status means travellers from these
countries, as well as those who are not fully vaccinated, need to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival to the UK. However, fully vaccinated travellers from the US and European Union can avoid isolation on arrival into the UK if they have one of four approved vaccines: Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson Janssen. UK travellers are also exempt from selfisolation on return from amber list countries such as the UAE – a rule that came into effect from July 19 for all those vaccinated with an NHS-administered vaccine in the UK. UK carrier British Airways has also resumed flights between London and Dubai for the first time since January. A daily service is currently in operation.
ETIHAD RESUMES LONDON AND MANCHESTER SERVICES ETIHAD AIRWAYS has resumed
passenger flights to London (three times daily) and Manchester (daily) following the announcement that the UAE has been added to the UK’s Amber List. Unvaccinated guests travelling from the UAE are required to present a negative PCR test 72 hours before departure and to undergo 10 days’ home quarantine, as well as follow up COVID-19 tests on day two and day eight. Fully vaccinated guests who had their vaccine administered in the UK, US or Europe are exempt from quarantine and the day eight test. All 28 weekly services between Abu Dhabi and the UK are operated by a B787 Dreamliner. Visit etihad.com for flight options and UK entry regulations. SEPTEMBER 2021
AVANI AND TIVOLI TO LAUNCH IN BAHRAIN Minor Hotels will open its first properties in Bahrain in 2024 – Avani Bilaj Al Jazayer Bahrain Resort and Tivoli Bilaj Al Jazayer Bahrain Resort, each with 110 keys (pictured). They will be located along the main boulevard of new mixed-use development Bilaj Al Jazayer, overlooking the waterfront and sharing a beach club. STAYBRIDGE SUITES OPENS IN DIC Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City has opened on Sheikh Zayed Road offering 225 studios and one- and two-bedroom suites, all with living, working and dining areas and a fully equipped kitchen. Facilities include a restaurant serving complimentary breakfast daily, a 24/7 convenience store and a poolside bar lounge, plus flexible meeting and workspaces, a 25-metre infinity pool, and a concept spa with steam sauna. THREE MORE FOR RADISSON IN KSA Radisson Hotel Group has signed three new properties in Saudi Arabia: Vivid Jeddah Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals, planned to open in Q4 2021, and the Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah Al Hamra and the Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah Al Hamra, both set to open in Q3 2022.
