Dubai hotels survive New Year celebrations ban

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TONED DOWN: There were no fireworks like this but hotels in Dubai say they coped with the order to tone down New Year's Eve parties. (Getty Images)

Hotels and restaurants in Dubai were not badly affected by the last minute cancellation of New Year's Eve celebrations, Arabian Business has learnt.

Rather than cancel events, celebrations were instead moved indoors and music was muted following orders from Dubai's Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to adopt a more sober tone as a token of solidarity for those in Palestine.

Alexandra Bedirizi, marketing manager for Dubai Marine Resort, where prices started at 1,500 dirhams for the resort’s “Solid Gold Party”, said the hotel’s scheduled fireworks display was cancelled but the party continued as planned.

Celebrations at one of Dubai’s most popular bars, Barasti at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi also continued as planned. But fireworks were cancelled and the music was turned down.

The firework display at Atlantis, designed by Grucci, the American firm responsible for the hotel’s opening party fireworks in November, were also cancelled while the party continued as planned, said a spokesperson.

On Wednesday it was reported that hotels in Bahrain would not be seeking compensation after also being forced to cancel New Years Eve entertainment at the last minute

Five Star Hotels Committee chairman Abdulrahman al-Morshed said senior officials had met to discuss the issue but unanimously decided not to pursue any claims, reported Gulf Daily News.

“We will abide by the instructions of the government and as five-star hotels, we never contemplated requesting compensation. Of course we would welcome the idea if the government has such an initiative but we will not ask for it,” he said.

Similar directives to cancel New Year's Eve celebrations were also made in Egypt and Jordan.

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