Dubai's Waldorf Astoria DIFC is offering in-room coronavirus tests

The hotel guarantees that guests will get their Covid-19 test results within 24 hours

Guests staying at Dubai's Waldorf Astoria DIFC can book Covid-19 tests to be taken in-room, with a turnaround time of 24 hours. Courtesy Waldorf Astoria

Covid-19 tests are now a reality for anyone planning to travel. We need them to arrive into the country, to fly to select destinations and to cross the border from the Northern Emirates into Abu Dhabi.

This is why one luxury hotel in Dubai has decided to make things easier for guests by introducing in-house coronavirus tests.

The Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre has partnered with Burjeel Hospital to give guests at the five-star property the option of booking a coronavirus test that will be carried out in the comfort of their hotel room.

The service allows any guest who needs a Covid-19 test for upcoming travel, or simply for peace of mind, to book a test as easily as they might order room service.

Guests of the hotel can request the test via their personal concierge – a service that Waldorf Astoria offers to each guest when they make a reservation. This personal concierge is then the primary contact and is typically used for making dinner reservations, organising transfers or taking pillow preferences. Now, they'll also be able to book medical tests.

The PCR-test for coronavirus is performed by medically trained staff from Burjeel Hospital. They visit the guest's room at a pre-arranged time, so there's no need to leave the suite. The cost of the test is Dh250, and the hotel says results are turned around in less than one day.

The hotel has also implemented Hilton's CleanStay programme designed to provide guests with peace of mind when it comes to safety and hygiene. This includes room seals  to reassure guests that no one has accessed their room since it was thoroughly cleaned.