Abu Dhabi hotels to reopen beaches

Private beaches at hotels can reopen with reduced capacity and social-distancing measures

Beaches at Abu Dhabi hotels can reopen at 40 per cent capacity but must follow social-distancing measures. Courtesy Saadiyat Beach Club / Facebook

Beaches at hotels in Abu Dhabi can reopen after new regulations were announced by the Supreme Council for National Security and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health.

Private hotel beaches are able to reopen at 40 per cent capacity, the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office said.

Hotels must meet the safety requirements previously announced by the Department of Health and must apply for an approval from the government before shorelines can be reopened.

The announcement was made on the evening of Sunday, May 31, and so most hotels are still in the process of preparing to reopen beaches.

Saadiyat Beach Club took to Instagram to announce that it was reopening its restaurants from today, Monday, June 1, and told beachgoers to "stay tuned" for news on the beach reopening.

Several hotels, including Emirates Palace, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, and the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, told The National that beaches at the hotels were still closed as of Monday morning.

Other hotels, including Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island and Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, said they were waiting on government approval to reopen shorelines.

Across the emirate, hotel pools, spas and gyms remain closed until further notice.

The committee said public beaches would remain closed, but individual outdoor sports practised in open spaces, including horse riding, cricket, cycling, golf, sailing and racquet sports, will be allowed for people aged between 12 to 60.

Hotels can also now reopen restaurants. Rosewood Abu Dhabi and Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island announced they are opening their restaurants from today, Monday, June 1.

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In pictures: Dubai public beaches reopen

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  Sunseekers enjoy a day out at Umm suqeim public beach on Saturday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Temperatures rose in the past week but residents still flocked to the shores as four public beaches opened on Friday

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  Sunbathers were urged to spread themselves out and keep a distance

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  Bathers should wear masks even when on the beach, the authorities said

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  Public beaches opened a week after private hotel beaches were allowed bring guests back

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  Bathers were able to dip their feet into into the water for the first time in months

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  Police were seen patrolling along the beaches and said fines would be handed out to those found to be flouting rules

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  More public areas and activities have been allowed to open in recent weeks