Dubai has welcomed 13 foreign cruise ships that were at sea while most countries closed their ports because of the coronavirus pandemic, an Emirati official said on Wednesday. The UAE has officially reported more than 8,000 infections, with 1,546 recoveries and 52 deaths from Covid-19. The authorities in Dubai have brought in stay-at-home measures and suspended international travel. "We have welcomed all boats that found themselves in the region, whether they were based in the Emirates or passing through," said Mohammed Al Mannai, executive director of Port Rashid. Thirteen cruise liners carrying 29,000 passengers and 10,000 crew have been granted entry by Dubai port authorities, Mr Al Mannai said. "We have taken the necessary strict measures with these arriving boats, including medical tests," he said. Mr Al Mannai said the passengers and crew, none of whom tested positive, spent a long time at sea before finding a port at which to berth. The passengers and most crew members, 80 per cent of whom were Europeans, were flown home, he said. The empty cruise liners are still docked in Dubai, where they could remain until October, when Mr Al Mannai hopes the tourist season might resume and the port return to normal operation. Tourism is normally lower between May and September because of the extreme heat and humidity in the UAE. Dubai welcomed 16 million tourists in 2019 and, before the coronavirus pandemic, hoped to reach 20 million this year. _______________
