The expert explained the procedure for tourists in the UAE when extending their stay

In Dubai, the extension of stay for tourists stranded due to the closure of the airspace does not have a mandatory compensation mechanism, unlike Abu Dhabi and Ras al Khaimah. Ilya Vasilchuk, a judicial lawyer, an expert on the security of electronic transactions and real estate transactions, and a public figure, told Izvestia on March 2.

According to him, while in Abu Dhabi and Ras al Khaimah, the authorities declared their readiness to compensate hotels for the cost of extending the stay of tourists, in Dubai such a scheme was not initially fixed. The instructions sent to the hotels are advisory in nature and are not designed as mandatory legal norms. In this regard, the conditions for extending a stay may vary depending on the policy of a particular hotel and its willingness to follow the recommendations of the departments.

"In any case, the following documents must be kept: confirmation of the hotel reservation (voucher, contract); documents confirming the cancellation of the flight (boarding pass, certificate from the airline); receipts and receipts for additional expenses (meals, communication, etc.); correspondence with the hotel, airline, tour operator (emails, screenshots of messages); a copy of the insurance and the documents required for the insured event (if applicable); written refusals to provide services or compensation (if any)," the expert said.

He clarified that in exceptional cases, assistance can be provided through Russian foreign institutions. According to the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 31, 2010 No. 370, assistance is possible if citizens do not have means of livelihood abroad and there is a threat to their lives. In such situations, it is recommended to contact the Department of the Situational Crisis Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

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In addition, Kristina Tancyura, CEO and Managing Partner of SKY Consulting Group, Head of the Committee for work with the UAE and the Gulf States of the Association of Exporters and Importers, added that the situation is gradually stabilizing. In particular, Abu Dhabi has started organizing outbound flights, including to Russia.

"As for the rights of tourists, according to the rules of international transportation, in the event of a flight delay, the airline is responsible for solving the passenger's problems. For travelers who were already in the departure area at the time of the closure of the airspace, carriers are required to provide accommodation and meals. Those whose flights have been cancelled or rescheduled are offered free transfer to other dates, including without penalties for non-refundable fares. At the same time, different airlines operate in different ways, so in practice, the settlement process is not always equally smooth," the expert concluded.

On March 1, it was reported that the authorities of Abu Dhabi and Ras al Khaimah had assumed the costs of extending the stay of tourists stranded in the country due to flight restrictions. Later, on March 2, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) announced that the first passenger plane to Moscow in more than two days had taken off from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

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