Reopening in the Gulf: tourism returns to Dubai on 7 July and businesses resume activity in Saudi Arabia

The Gulf is experiencing a new post-pandemic normality this week. Saudi Arabia ended its curfew on Sunday and reopened the mosques in the holy city of Mecca. The country is moving towards the final stage of its de-escalation, which began on 28 May with the reopening of shops. All economic and commercial activities have been restarted, there is free movement between provinces and 75% of public employees have returned to their jobs. For its part, the emirate of Dubai, the economic centre of the Emirates, has announced this Sunday that it will accept tourists from 7 July, although each traveller will have to present a PCR test to prove that they are free of coronavirus. It will also be compulsory to download a mobile application and have a valid health insurance. 

Tourists must present the test 96 hours before the departure date of their trip to Dubai or undergo a PCR test at the airport in the city. Emirates airlines can refuse tourists with symptoms of coronavirus at departure. If the PCR test is positive, the traveler must undergo a 14-day, out-of-pocket quarantine. 

Residents who were trapped abroad after the outbreak of the pandemic in late March will now be able to return to the Emirates, provided they are tested for COVID-19. Dubai is one of the main hubs between Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe and its air links have been disrupted since mid-March because of the pandemic. So far, the country has suffered 44,925 cases of coronavirus and 302 deaths, according to World Health Organization figures. 

The emirate of Abu Dhabi, the largest and most powerful in the Arab Emirates, also announced on Monday that it would ease restrictions between its cities for all residents starting Tuesday. However, it has extended restrictions on entry to the emirate for non-residents. 

Spokespersons for the Saudi Arabian Ministries of Health, Interior and Labour have said that the reopening that begins this week is by no means a return to normal life, as the virus has not disappeared. The kingdom of the desert has recorded an increase in cases in the last 24 hours and has had 4,000 new infections. 

Although the other 90,000 mosques in the country had already welcomed the faithful since 31 May, they did not reopen in Mecca until this Sunday. In the nearly 1,500 mosques that have reopened their doors after almost three months of closure, the use of masks and electronic screens to raise awareness has been made mandatory. It will also be compulsory to maintain social distance during prayers in the holy city and the faithful will have to wear their own carpets. 

Restaurants and cafes have also reopened their doors to domestic commerce. Gyms, barber shops and beauty salons are also welcoming customers again. Traffic movement in large cities such as Jeddah and Riyadh has been normal, with no traffic jams, according to residents consulted by the daily Arab News. "I'm glad that the restrictions have been lifted. I want to go to many places from now on, although I know I have to be careful," Saja al-Humayani told Arab News. "I've been to Al-Tahliyah and the restaurants and cafes have been full since this morning," said Abrar Azzouz. 

Iyaa Al-Shammri, a clothing shop owner in Riyadh, was waiting for the de-escalation like water in May. "We had a lot of difficulties during the curfew, we didn't have any customers. We stopped paying rent, bills and employees' salaries," she told Arab News. 

Despite the enthusiasm to regain some normality after the pandemic, there are still people who are afraid and prefer to wait a little longer for activities abroad. Muna Abdullah is one of them. She has not yet made plans to go out, although she is going to work. "People are behaving as if we are back to normal, but we still have to be careful," she told Arab News. The authorities have prepared a set of guidelines that are mandatory. Those who do not respect them face a fine. 

Little by little, the Saudis are trying to get their lives back on track before the arrival of COVID-19, but authorities have warned that the pandemic is not yet over and the threat of a second wave is very much present. They have called on the public to take responsibility for preventing future outbreaks.