Abu Dhabi hotels must adopt Emirati Dhiyafa Standards by Q1 2027

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has launched the Emirati Dhiyafa (Hospitality) Standards, a framework embedding Emirati hospitality and national identity into visitor experiences at hotels and hotel apartments across the emirate. The standards comprise 65 practical requirements spanning eight stages of the visitor journey. Hotels must implement a minimum of 20 standards (10 mandatory, 10 self-selected), including staffing the guest welcome area with at least one employee in traditional Emirati attire, providing pre-arrival cultural information, and training staff on traditional Emirati dishes. Hotel apartments must adopt a minimum of 10 standards (5 mandatory, 5 self-selected). Mandatory standards include hotel websites with UAE history and culture sections, pre-arrival messages on unique cultural experiences, and guest areas with Emirati heritage-inspired design elements. Participating properties will receive implementation guidance, cultural training, and an operational playbook. Full implementation across the emirate is planned for Q1 2027. A future Emirati Dhiyafa Mark will recognise establishments exceeding baseline standards across three tiers of excellence.