‘Spread love, not Rona’: Dubai restaurants offering discounts to vaccinated customers

It comes amid a Covid-19 surge in the emirate

Burj Al Arab is one of Dubai’s many instantly recognisable landmarks (Dubai Tourism)

Restaurants in Dubai are offering discounts to customers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Under the tagline “Spread love, not Rona”, restaurants that are part of the local Gates Hospitality Group are offering a 10 per cent discount for residents who have the first dose and 20 per cent off for the second dose.

Proof of vaccination is required, the flyer says.

The emirate, one of seven in the United Arab Emirates, is trying to fight the pandemic without closing its doors completely. Last week, it halted all live entertainment in hotels and restaurants as its hospitals dealt with an influx of Covid-19 patients. 

The UAE says it has already vaccinated around 2.5 million of its population of 10 million. It has approved Chinese vaccination Sinopharm and the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

Tourism is an essential part of Dubai’s economy, and British visitors are one of the largest groups of visitors. In normal times, around 1.5 million Brits visit the United Arab Emirates every year, with most gravitating towards Dubai, its main tourist hub.

(Gates Hospitality)

To enter Dubai, tourists must present a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours of departure, or take a test on arrival at the airport – but under UK law, travel is currently restricted for all but legally permitted reasons. 

Many influencers have come under fire for making “business” trips to Dubai.

Earlier this week, Instagram influencer Sheridan Mordew defended her “essential” lockdown trip to Dubai, telling This Morning viewers the trip was to help her mental health and “motivate” her followers.

The personal trainer and touched down in Dubai on 2 January, just days before the third lockdown in England was announced on 4 January, while tier restrictions were in place.

Ms Mordew, who is from the North East of England, was grilled by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who argued that her trip was not in the “spirit” of lockdown.

The Independent has contacted Gates Hospitality for a response.