Hotels scrabble as Dubai declares Valentine’s Day dry

Monday, 17 January 2011 1:57 PM

February 14 is traditionally a lucrative earner for hotels that capitalise on its commercial potential

Hotels in Dubai are scrambling to reschedule their Valentine’s Day celebrations after the emirate’s tourism authority confirmed February 14 will be a dry night for religious reasons.

February 14, traditionally a lucrative earner for hotels that capitalise on its commercial potential, this year falls a day ahead of Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing told Arabian Business.

Licensed hotels and bars will be barred from selling alcohol as a result, Saad El Sayed, a media spokesperson at DTCM told.

“This is because of Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday only,” he said.

The date, referred to as Milad Al Nabi, is traditionally marked as a religious holiday by the UAE and other Muslim states, in order to celebrate the life of the Prophet (PBUH).

Hotels in the emirate told Arabian Business they would be holding their Valentine’s Day celebrations on February 13, and reserving more sedate, dry events for the day itself.

"We will adapt the Valentine's offer to serve only non-alcoholic drinks," a spokesperson for the state-backed Jumeirah Group, which counts the Burj Al Arab in its portfolio, told Arabian Business.

“Due to this development, our celebration will be on the 13th so we could serve both our alcohol and non-alcoholic packages and on the 14th only the non-alcoholic beverages will be available,” a spokesperson from the Renaissance Hotel confirmed.

In Abu Dhabi, hotels have not yet received any direction from the tourism authorities.

“In Abu Dhabi there has been no announcement yet with regards to Valentine’s being dry so we will continue our activities as planned unless instructed otherwise by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority,” Lina Vasiloudis, director of marketing and communications at the Beach Rotana hotel in Abu Dhabi told Arabian Business.

Follow @ArabianBusiness

Join the Discussion

Disclaimer:The view expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by Arabian Business, its employees, sponsors or its advertisers.

Please post responsibly. Commenter Rules

Read All 28 Comments

Posted by: Liz Thursday, 20 January 2011 6:27 PM[UAE] - UAE

To Jezinho, you are really lucky to be living in the Gulf 120 years!!

Posted by: Shiva Saturday, 12 February 2011 9:26 PM[UAE] - U.A.E.

Hahaha. Wonder how the traffic was a century ago :D

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Marc Wednesday, 19 January 2011 7:09 PM[UAE] - UAE

It?s amazing how people keep on going on about how they hate valentine?s day etc etc and when asked why they don?t really have a solid answer its usually ?ah it?s so commercialised? or ?you don?t need to wait till Feb 14th to show your love? but here?s the thing you don?t actually have to hate Valentine?s day, Feb 14th Valentines is really what you make it up to be, you really don?t need to go out and spend thousands or drink yourself senseless to prove your love, stay home cook something enjoy with your partner simple

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: SA Wednesday, 19 January 2011 7:09 PM[UAE] - India

Valentine's Day is a commercial event propagated by greedy businesses to make more profits. Celebrate your love with your loved ones i.e. parents, siblings, wife, kids, friends, etc. everyday no need to wait for the 14th of February which is just like any other day on the calendar.

Posted by: Not Tight Thursday, 20 January 2011 1:35 PM[UAE] - UAE

Listen to all of you clamouring for any excuse not to spend money on your loved one. Sure, you CAN do this on any day of the year but most of you don't. Stop complaining about it, be humble and loving and show some effort (not just cash or alcohol). Oh, and the bubbly is always a nice touch which isn't bereft of "moral or spiritual values".

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Abu Hamad Wednesday, 19 January 2011 7:08 PM[UAE] - UAE

This day should not be given any attention as it has become a day of iniquity that is bereft of any moral or spiritual values.

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Sultan Wednesday, 19 January 2011 7:08 PM[UAE] - UAE

A great decision and I hope all the malls and hotels refrain from celebrating a day that is alien to this region. We celebrate love everyday and not by becoming intoxicated alcoholics and buying chocolates.

Posted by: Jezinho Thursday, 20 January 2011 1:37 PM[UAE] - Bahrain

Sorry Sultan but my impression after living here for over 120 years is that Gulf nationals are far more enthusiastic about Valentine's Day than we are back in the UK. Your wife is lucky to have such a perfect husband that you buy her flowers, chocolates and other love tokens every day of the year.

Reply to this comment.

Read All 28 Comments

Arabian Business Power 500 2013 - Top 5 from Construction »


View complete list

Photo Galleries
Videos

31
Dubai labourers stage rare strike for more pay

Having said some of the things that I say every now and then, I feel obliged to add that I have nothing against the concept of immigration. Immigration... more
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 9:44 PM - Hisham
14
Are there too many Brits in the UAE?

Is this journalism?
Barely-disguised street bigotry - taxi driver philosophy, no less - with a sweetener at the end.
If there are too many Brits... more
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 9:46 PM - Bint Al Abla
10
Kuwait deports 1,258 expats in a month

need, want, all semantics.

locals need to push needy unneeded expats who are unwanted. more
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 9:45 PM - exodus

Read all user comments »

54
Emirates defends no staff bonus, despite huge profit

Happy employees, happy customers. Quite simple actually. 60,000 unhappy staff, well, you do the math on how many unhappy customers can result from poor... more
Monday, 20 May 2013 10:27 AM - Louie Tedesco
31
Dubai labourers stage rare strike for more pay

Having said some of the things that I say every now and then, I feel obliged to add that I have nothing against the concept of immigration. Immigration... more
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 9:44 PM - Hisham
24
Kuwait to start medical care segregation on June 1

Let me put the entire issue in perspective. There are massive traffic problems on the roads of Kuwait, where Kuwait can boast high road fatalities and... more
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 1:28 PM - Abdullah

Read all user comments »

54
Emirates defends no staff bonus, despite huge profit

Happy employees, happy customers. Quite simple actually. 60,000 unhappy staff, well, you do the math on how many unhappy customers can result from poor... more
Monday, 20 May 2013 10:27 AM - Louie Tedesco
42
Qatar teacher jailed for insulting Muslims

Islam is not better than any other religion, to all the muslims out there, stop putting yourself on a pedestal, you are filled with self importance that... more
Tuesday, 14 May 2013 9:58 AM - graeme
31
Dubai labourers stage rare strike for more pay

Having said some of the things that I say every now and then, I feel obliged to add that I have nothing against the concept of immigration. Immigration... more
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 9:44 PM - Hisham

Read all user comments »

Log in Not registered? Register now!

Retrieve password form

Services:

Hotels scrabble as Dubai declares Valentine’s Day dry

Related:

Stories

Companies

Also in Lifestyle

Also in UAE

Join the Discussion

Further reading

Features & Analysis

Most Popular

Most Discussed