Sheikh Hamdan with Sheikh Ahmed during at Dubai Airport.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dubai on Tuesday started receiving its first set of international tourists since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with comprehensive precautionary measures and protocols implemented to ensure the highest international standards of health, safety and wellbeing for visitors.

Following the remarkable progress it achieved in curbing the spread of the virus, Dubai announced recently that it will reopen itself to international tourists from July 7, 2020.

Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tuesday visited Dubai Airport and reviewed the preparations and preventive protocols in place to welcome tourists back.

Ahead of the reopening, Dubai received the Safe Travels Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which validates the stringent global hygiene and safety protocols the city has put in place to ensure the health and safety of tourists and passengers.

Sheikh Hamdan said the multi-faceted measures Dubai has adopted to ensure tourist wellbeing reflects its position as one of the world’s most sought-after destinations.

“The city’s superior healthcare infrastructure and stringent preventive and safety protocols followed by its travel, hospitality and tourism establishments and facilities city-wide, assure tourists that the emirate is one of the safest destinations in the world.”

 Sheikh Hamdan is being briefed about the safety measures taken by airport authorities.

President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said that Dubai Airport has put in place globally-benchmarked measures to secure the health and wellbeing of passengers, prevent the spread of the virus and provide the highest levels of safety at its facilities. The measures, implemented after rigorous planning and groundwork, enable Dubai to substantially mitigate the risks of infection and manage any potential scenario effectively.

Even during the past few months, Dubai remained top of mind among international tourists as a destination they would like to visit when restrictions are removed. Ranked one of the world’s five most visited cities for the fifth year in a row by Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index (GDCI) 2019, Dubai welcomed 15.93 million international overnight visitors last year.