
Saudi's 20-hour hotel rule: Game-changer for tourists, hosts alike
The
According to the policy, check-in and check-out times must be clearly documented in the reservation confirmation, and the total stay must not fall below 20 hours. While hotels and accommodations can set their own schedules based on location and clientele, they must still guarantee the full minimum stay,
Read-
Late check-ins won't affect check-out time
Officials clarified that a guest's late arrival does not alter the stated check-out time. For instance, if a reservation lists check-in at 10:00 p.m. and check-out at 12:00 pm the next day, the full period stands, and any missed time is the responsibility of the guest.
The ministry emphasized that this regulation allows facilities ample time to maintain cleanliness and prepare rooms to high-quality standards for incoming guests. The timing is calculated strictly based on the reservation record.
Guests' rights and contact support
Additionally, the ministry stressed that travelers are entitled to receive the exact room type, services, and amenities as advertised on booking platforms. Tourists are urged to carefully review hotel policies before confirming reservations.
For questions or complaints, guests can contact the Unified Tourism Center by dialing 930.
The Ministry of Tourism reiterated its commitment to enforcing regulations, protecting guest rights, and enhancing the overall tourism experience in line with international best practices.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Business
4 hours ago
- Gulf Business
UAE aviation sector soars in H1 2025 with 75.4 million passengers
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes The UAE' civil aviation sector recorded notable growth across key indicators in H1 2025, with passenger traffic, air cargo, and air traffic movements showing solid results, according to a report by the state news agency (WAM). Airports across the UAE handled 75.4 million passengers in H1 2025, up from 71.7 million in the same period last year, representing a 5 per cent increase. January recorded the highest monthly passenger volume, exceeding 13.7 million travellers. UAE national carriers expanded their global network, launching flights to 15 new destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The new cities include locations in Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Croatia, and Ethiopia, further reinforcing the UAE's status as a major international aviation hub. Country's competitiveness in the aviation sector is 'rising' Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority ( Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, DG of GCAA, added, 'We are proud to continue achieving stable growth rates in both passenger and cargo traffic, supported by ambitious development projects to keep pace with this expansion. The total passenger handling capacity of the country's airports now exceeds 160 million, and we are confident that the aviation sector will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting the national economy, boosting tourism and trade, and reinforcing the UAE's position as a leading air transport hub regionally and globally.' In detail, air traffic in the UAE recorded 531,000 movements in H1 2025, a 6.2 per cent rise compared with nearly 500,000 movements during the same period last year. Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Mumbai, and Bahrain were the top five busiest destinations in terms of weekly flights. Air cargo volumes surpassed 2.2 million tonnes, up 4.74 per cent year-on-year, with national carriers accounting for 67 per cent of total cargo traffic. Read:


The National
a day ago
- The National
UAE announces 2025 school calendar for public and private schools
The UAE school and universities calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year has been announced. The calendar, which applies to all public and private schools and universities in the UAE, sets unified dates for the start of the academic year, the end of the three terms and end of term breaks. The new structure was announced separately by the Ministry of Education, for schools, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, for universities. August 25 marks the start of the academic year, with the end of the school year pencilled in for July 3, 2026. The winter break will be from December 8 to January 4, 2026. Spring break will be from March 16 to March 29. For private schools in Sharjah, the spring break will be from March 16 to March 22. Mid-term breaks The new calendar also specifies mid-term breaks for public and private schools. These run from: October 13-19, 2025 February 11-15, 2026 May 25-31, 2026 Building social cohesion Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, said the new calendar serves as a strategic national tool, reinforcing both educational quality and social cohesion. She also noted that consistent holiday dates will enable community, cultural and tourism entities to align their programmes with the academic schedule, strengthening the link between education and society. The ministry has allowed private schools that do not follow the government's curriculum to schedule mid-term breaks in October and February, with each break not exceeding five consecutive days. These breaks must remain within the specified months and cannot be extended or shifted, ensuring alignment with the national calendar while accommodating schools' operational needs. The ministry also stressed that all schools must follow the approved calendar, including holding final assessments or completing curriculum requirements in the last week of each term, to ensure pupils attend until the last school day.


Gulf Business
2 days ago
- Gulf Business
How AI is powering UAE travel in 2025: More bookings, less fraud
Image credit: Getty Images Travel in 2025 has entered a new era—one powered by artificial intelligence. From trip inspiration and planning to bookings, in‑journey support and fraud prevention, AI is transforming every stage of the travel journey. A recent Read- More travellers in the UAE than ever are turning to AI to design their perfect getaway. According to The report, based on feedback from 40,000 consumers across 27 countries, highlights AI's ability to make discovery faster, smarter and less overwhelming. 85 per cent said AI helped them find travel ideas faster and feel less inundated. 81 per cent complained that social media is cluttered with ads, sponsorships and influencer content, making it hard to find trustworthy suggestions. 82 per cent use AI to cut through the noise. 85 per cent want personalised travel experiences in seconds. 81 per cent rely on AI when they face issues mid‑trip. 80 per cent trust the accuracy of AI‑provided information. Especially among younger generations, AI travel tools are gaining traction. Gen Z leads the way at 77 per cent adoption, followed by Millennials at 74 per cent. Gen X is quickly catching up, 44 per cent now use AI, reflecting a sharp 60 per cent year‑on‑year growth, while Gen Z adoption rose 58 per cent. Even Boomers are warming to it, with 18 per cent reporting that AI made their trip planning easier. Phil Crawford, Global Head of Hospitality at Adyen, explains: 'AI technology has become incredibly important to guests looking for destination inspiration and quick, fun and personalised itineraries, especially as summer vacations arrive. Guests are increasingly using AI to make their trips more seamless, and, in response, hospitality providers are looking to invest to meet this growing demand.' Hospitality providers race to keep up In response to shifting consumer expectations, many hospitality businesses are racing to adopt AI tools—but they face structural hurdles. The Adyen survey shows 67 per cent of UAE hospitality firms struggle with fragmented payment systems that create operational inefficiencies and make financial reconciliation difficult. Still, industry optimism is strong: 56 per cent believe AI‑powered search tools will redefine booking decisions in 2025 and beyond. 50 per cent expect AI‑driven personalisation to elevate guest experiences. 44 per cent see AI customer service as a future game‑changer. 39 per cent are already using AI chatbots or virtual assistants to support guests and make recommendations. Crawford adds, 'Payments are the critical bridge between AI‑powered discovery and the full guest experience—from booking a room to hotel check‑out. Hospitality businesses are increasingly integrating AI functionality within their platforms to offer a more seamless payment experience for guests.' Payment security: A growing concern As AI expands, security risks follow—and payment fraud is top of mind. • 17 per cent of UAE travellers reported experiencing fraud when booking flights or accommodation in the past 12 months. • 42 per cent of UAE hospitality businesses saw a significant rise in payment fraud attempts. To combat this, many firms are adopting AI‑driven fraud detection tools. Adyen's Uplift platform, which features Protect—an AI‑powered fraud prevention module—has slashed false‑positive rates by 86 per cent, enabling genuine transactions to process smoothly and securely. Crawford notes that AI not only helps reduce fraud but also eliminates friction that bogs down genuine customers, making it a vital strategic investment for operators. The broader impact: AI is redefining travel Guests win : They get destination inspiration, tailored itineraries, rapid help with problems, and smoother booking and payment—all thanks to AI. Businesses gain : Hotels, airlines, and tour agencies can boost conversion, personalise communications, reduce fraud, and stay competitive. Challenges remain : Infrastructure improvement and coherent payment setups are essential for the industry to deliver on AI's promise. The beauty of AI lies in its dual value proposition: inbound, it inspires travellers with fresh ideas and responds instantly to queries; outbound, it drives conversions, streamlines financial flows, and fights fraud. Savvy hospitality players are those who recognise this synergy—and invest in just the right tools. What's next for 2025 and beyond? More embedded AI at booking touchpoints : Expect to see product search and one‑click payments within chatbots and in‑platform tools. Increased fidelity of personalisation : AI systems will learn guest preferences and habits to tailor experiences dynamically. Smarter security models : AI‑based fraud prevention will evolve from reactive to proactive, nipping threats in the bud. Cross‑platform coherence : Streamlined payment systems will smooth out current disconnects between online and on‑site operations. The UAE is at the vanguard of this transformation. As AI usage grows across all age groups, hospitality providers that invest judiciously will remain the go‑to brands for inspired travel, seamless itineraries and fortified security.