Emaar suspends entertainment at all its attractions across Dubai

Emaar Entertainment which operates major tourist attractions across Dubai, has announced the temporary closure of all of them until the end of March in line with the government’s decision to undertake measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The attractions which will be closed include: Dubai Opera, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Reel Cinemas, Dubai Ice Rink, Kidzania, VR Park, Ekart Zabeel and Dig It.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo will remain closed until the end of March 2020.
For further inquiries, please call us at 800-DUBAI-MALL (800 38224 6255) or e-mail us at [email protected]. pic.twitter.com/uKVbxF5tEf

— Dubai Aquarium by Emaar (@DubaiAquarium) March 15, 2020

The individual websites of these attractions have put up notices regarding their closure, with some of them even outlining guidelines as to their refund policies.

All ticket holders for shows happening until the end of March will be refunded. If you have purchased tickets online on Dubai Opera website, they will be refunded automatically. Please allow for a few days for the refund to appear in your accounts. pic.twitter.com/7Mvgumz2kq

— Dubai Opera by Emaar (@DubaiOpera) March 15, 2020

For example, the Dubai Opera tweeted to say that all ticket holders for shows happening until the end of March would be refunded. For those who purchased tickets online on Dubai Opera website, they will be refunded automatically. For those who have purchased tickets from the Dubai Opera Box Office, they will need to visit the Box Office to receive their refund. While those who purchased their tickets from Virgin Megastore Tickets or Platinum List, would need to contact the customer service centres of those retailer’s for refunds.

Emaar’s decision to close the facilities comes after a recent directive from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) stating that all events in the emirate will have to be cancelled until March 31.

Read: Covid-19: Dubai closes theme parks, cinemas, gyms, spas and cancels all events

DTCM directed all entertainment destinations to suspend operations and all hospitality establishments to suspend wedding gatherings from March 15 until the end of the month.

Other entertainment destinations including Dubai Parks and Resorts, which operates Motiongate, Bollywood Parks, and the Legoland theme parks, confirmed the closure of all its venues too following the directive.

Read: Emaar to stop taking bookings at three Dubai hotels as Covid-19 hits demand

On March 10, Emaar said that it would stop taking bookings at three of its hotels – Address Fountain Views, Vida Creek Harbour and Vida Emirates Hills – from March 15 to August 31 as the Covid-19 coronavirus hits demand at its properties.

On Sunday, March 15, the UAE announced 12 new confirmed coronavirus cases of the virus within the country, taking the total number of cases to 98.