Dubai hotel is offering families financially hit by Covid-19 free week-long stays

Zabeel House by Jumeirah The Greens is offering free stays to families hitfinancially by the coronavirus pandemic. Zabeel House

The past few months have brought with them great difficulties for many families across the world. Financial pressures due to the coronavirus pandemic have seen many people faced with salary cuts or job losses.

But the pandemic has also brought with it hundreds of small acts of kindness from those who are in a position to help, and that is exactly what one Dubai hotel is hoping to do with its latest initiative.

Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens is offering eight families a free week-long hotel stay in the hope of helping to alleviate some pressure after a tough few months.

“Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens is a community hotel by its very nature, with a wonderful network of neighbours and friends,” said general manager Luke James. “Since we’ve reopened and welcomed back our regular guests, we’ve heard of several people going through quite a tough time given all the challenges of the last few months – we’re all one community and it’s only natural to help each other.”

Luke James, general manager of Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens. Zabeel House

The initiative is aimed at families who might be struggling to make ends meet after losing their job or taking large salary cuts, James says. The only charge they would need to pay would be the mandatory Dh15 tourism charge for each room per night.

“There are so many challenges people are facing,” James said. “We’re hoping to alleviate some of the immediate concerns they may be facing.”

James initially posted the offer in a Dubai Facebook group, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response. "We're hoping it will spur other hotels in a similar position to offer the same," he said. "Ultimately, giving back to the community in a time of need, we literally are stronger together."

The hotel has already been contacted by its partners including Coffee Planet, African & Eastern, Opaala and its sister hotel Jumeirah Zabeel Saray about coming on board to help. “It’s great to see the knock-on effect and we really hope it continues,” James said.

Zabeel House is asking all interested families to get in touch with them about the offer, and the hotel’s staff will speak to all applicants before deciding which families will be offered the rooms.

“We don’t believe now is the time to pry into people’s private finances, so the offer will not be awarded on a means-tested basis,” James said. “We’re speaking to everyone who has enquired and will come to a fair decision based on who genuinely needs the room for their family.”

People can get in touch on Instagram via @zabeelhousethegreens, on Facebook at Zabeel House The Greens, by emailing [e-mail] or by calling 04 519 1111.