ADNEC offers use of ExCeL London centre to the fight against coronavirus

The East London exhibition centre, which is owned by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), has been converted into a temporary National Health Service (NHS) hospital to support the UK Government in its efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak. 

ADNEC has served this exhibition facility of all costs and charges, thus converting it into the temporary NHS Nightingale hospital; with space for 4,000 beds in just nine days with thanks also to the collaboration of the British Army with the health authorities.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities in charge of the London ExCeL centre will not be charging any rent for the use of the infrastructure provided and have offered to cover the running costs of the hospital, which will be able to accommodate 4,000 patients over 80 wards throughout the complex.  

ExCel is thus one of the largest hospitals in the world, under the name NHS Nightingale. The decision to use this solution was made by the health authorities and the exhibition space managers due to the crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already left over 75,000 dead and over 1,300,000 cases diagnosed worldwide (over 5,300 dead and over 52,000 affected in the UK alone); all of which meant that thousands more beds were needed for British patients.  
 

"The use of ExCeL East London for the NHS Nightingale has always been provided to the NHS on a rent-free basis," said Jeremy Rees, Executive Director of ExCeL London, in a statement to The National.  “We joined the national effort to combat coronavirus immediately, and worked in close partnership with the NHS to ensure this hospital could be up and running in a matter of days. The initial agreement with the NHS included a contribution to some fixed costs. We have since decided to cover the fixed costs ourselves. The ExCeL London facility is fully available to the NHS, and we are here to support all their needs and requirements during this crisis,” he added, and also said that "it is a privilege to support the NHS and its wonderful staff working tirelessly night and day to protect people and save lives.”

For his part, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, managing director and group chief executive of ADNEC, said that everything is being done to "help the UK in these difficult times. "To be clear, profit has always been the furthest thing from our minds" Al-Dhaheri said.

The venue was offered rent-free from the initial conversation with the NHS, and Adnec Group will ensure the ExCeL London partnership comes at no cost to the NHS." said ADNEC's CEO , who stressed the firm commitment not to charge the British National Health System for the use of the facilities for the operation of NHS Nightingale London. 
 

In this regard, the Sunday Times had previously reported that the NHS would have to pay between 2 and 3 million pounds per month in rent for the infrastructure; a cost now avoided by the National Health System thanks to the Emirate's offer.