The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has introduced the Emirati Dhiyafa (Hospitality) Standards, a new framework designed to bring Emirati hospitality, traditions, and national identity into the hotel experience across the emirate.
The standards provide hotels and hotel apartments with a practical set of measures that cover the different stages of a guest’s journey, from the first communication before arrival to departure.
The initiative forms part of efforts to support the Emirati National Identity Strategy, with a focus on strengthening pride in Emirati culture and encouraging the values that have long shaped life in the UAE. At the heart of the framework is Al Sana’, the traditional Emirati code of conduct and etiquette, alongside the spirit of generosity, respect, and welcome associated with Emirati hospitality.
It also supports Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 by giving visitors more opportunities to experience the emirate’s culture and heritage as part of their stay, rather than as something separate from the tourism experience.
His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said visitors often remember the warmth and personal touches that make a stay feel special.
“The experiences that visitors remember most are often the simplest: the warmth of a welcome, the sharing of local traditions, and the feeling of being genuinely looked after,” he said.
Al Geziry added that the Tourism Strategy 2030 would be supported by embedding Emirati cultural identity into hospitality, helping create stronger connections between visitors and Abu Dhabi while contributing to the wider tourism sector.
65 Standards Across Eight Stages
The framework was developed in collaboration with the National Projects Office (NPO) and supported by the National Identity Committee under the Education, Human Development, and Community Council.
It includes 65 practical standards spread across eight stages of the visitor journey.
Guests can expect to encounter traditional elements of Emirati hospitality throughout their stay. These include a Marhaba AlSaa welcome, Emirati coffee, and locally sourced dates of a traditional Emirati variety. Hotels will also be encouraged to introduce guests to local dishes such as harees and balaleet.
Together, the standards are intended to bring the principles of Al Sana’, including generosity and respect, into everyday hotel operations.
What Hotels Will Need to Provide
Some requirements will be mandatory for participating hotels. These include having a section on the hotel website or links, providing information about the UAE’s history and culture.
Hotels must also include cultural, heritage, and natural attractions in pre-arrival communications, giving guests ideas for how they can experience the UAE beyond the property.
The guest welcome area must have at least one employee dressed in traditional Emirati attire at all times. Guest-facing and food-and-beverage employees will also need to be able to identify and explain at least three traditional Emirati dishes and their place in Emirati dining traditions.
Another requirement calls for at least one public guest-facing area to feature a design element inspired by Emirati heritage.
Different Requirements for Hotels and Hotel Apartments
DCT Abu Dhabi is taking a flexible approach to implementation, recognising that accommodation properties operate in different ways.
Hotels will be required to meet at least 20 standards. This will include 10 mandatory requirements and 10 additional standards selected by the property.
Hotel apartments, meanwhile, will need to meet a minimum of 10 standards, comprising five mandatory and five self-selected requirements from a streamlined version of the framework.
Participating properties will receive implementation guidance, cultural training programmes, and an operational playbook to help staff and management put the standards into practice.
Full implementation across Abu Dhabi is planned for Q1 2027.
A future guest-facing Emirati Dhiyafa Mark will also recognise properties that go beyond the basic requirements. The mark will feature three levels of excellence, giving hotels an opportunity to demonstrate stronger performance in delivering authentic Emirati hospitality.
