Staying in Abu Dhabi will soon come with a greater experience of Emirati culture. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched the Emirati Dhiyafa (Hospitality) Standards, a new framework designed to embed local culture, traditions and national identity into visitor journeys at hotels and hotel apartments across the emirate.

Set to roll out across Abu Dhabi’s hospitality sector, the Emirati Dhiyafa Standards include 65 practical requirements across eight stages of the visitor journey, from the moments guests start planning their trip to the time they check out.

The standards incorporate the pillars and values of the national identity, reflecting social cohesion, and existence, through the traditional Emirati code of conduct and etiquette of Al Sana’ and the authentic Emirati spirit of hospitality.

His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The experiences that visitors remember most are often the simplest: the warmth of a welcome, the sharing of local traditions, and the feeling of being genuinely looked after. The Emirati Dhiyafa Standards translate these timeless values into a framework that will enrich every stage of the visitor journey.”

Hotels will need to implement at least 20 Emirati Dhiyafa (Hospitality) Standards, made up of 10 mandatory and 10 self-selected requirements. Hotel apartments will have a streamlined requirement of at least 10 standards – five mandatory and five self-selected.

Some of the mandatory standards include:

• Website cultural information: Hotel websites must include a section or links covering the history and culture of the UAE.
• Pre-arrival cultural information: Pre-arrival communications must explain how guests can experience the UAE’s culture, heritage and natural environment.
• Traditional Emirati welcome: The guest welcome area must always have at least one employee wearing traditional Emirati attire.
• Knowledge of Emirati cuisine: Guest-facing and F&B staff must be able to name and explain at least three traditional Emirati dishes, including their role in Emirati dining traditions.
• Emirati-inspired interiors: At least one public guest-facing area must feature at least one Emirati heritage-inspired design element.

Visitors can expect experiences such as a traditional Marhaba AlSaa welcome, Emirati coffee and locally sourced traditional dates, as well as more opportunities to discover local dishes including harees and balaleet.

Properties will receive cultural training, implementation guidance and an operational playbook, with full implementation across Abu Dhabi planned for Q1 2027.