DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Large events are back in the United Arab Emirates, and the Arabian & African Hospitality Investment Conference is among the first as hoteliers gathered at the Madinat Jumeirah for three days of discussion, deals and reacquaintance.

The main theme was togetherness. Indeed, the conference’s slogan is “Rise together.”

Adeeb Ahamed, managing director of Twenty14 Holdings, which owns such assets as Great Scotland Yard and the Waldorf Edinburgh, said the widespread crisis perpetuated by the COVID-19 pandemic actually has forced hoteliers to come together.

“As an industry we are geared up for recessions but never for a pandemic. We all had the same bucket of hardship, and now we are all working towards a common objective, that of cohesivity,” he said.

Conference host and master of ceremonies Jonathan Worsley, chairman and founder of Bench Events, said cohesion has been required both financially and intellectually.

In the United Arab Emirates, that bond comes from governments being a partner in change and opportunity and having the vision to get projects up, running and open, said Yousuf Lootah, executive director of development and investments at Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing.

“We are a catalyst, to provide the freedom for an investor to invest what he wants and where in the UAE he wants to invest. … We are very proud of the speed in which we can move and hotels can be built,” he said, reminding attendees that the long-awaited Expo 2020 in Dubai starts on Oct. 1.

The overriding sentiment was of hope, with key area players such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE realizing huge investment and successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, which has made it possible for AHIC and other sizable events to be held.

Not all sentiments were optimistic, which is not surprising after this odd 19 months.

Samih Sawiris, the Switzerland-based chairman of ownership firm Orascom, criticized politicians around the world for their approach to restarting travel and their non-cohesive thinking behind simplifying regulations.

“The role of nearly every government in the pandemic has largely been a joke. In the last few weeks, I have been in Egypt, Oman, Morocco and the UAE. After that crazy schedule, after more than 14 days have passed outside of Switzerland, then I can go to the U.S., but if I fly directly from Zurich, no, I am too dangerous,” he said.

Robin Rossmann, managing director of STR, in conversation with Kenneth Macpherson, CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said 97% of Middle East hotels have reopened, which is comparable to the U.S. and a little higher than in Europe.

He added a word of caution about the myriad COVID-19 travel regulations and requirements, which he said are constantly prone to change.

“Red tape can be very sticky, and it isn’t always logical,” Rossmann said.

“I spent five years in Shanghai, where there was at that time enormous amount of supply, and there were notable gaps between demand and supply, but capital is intelligent and makes shifts, as does government strategy to provide a positive balance.”
— Kenneth Macpherson, IHG Hotels & Resorts

“One huge problem in the Middle East is that debt has always been expensive. Yes, hotels are profitable, but at the same time international capital is used to something different. Now the biggest frustration in this part of the world is where is the [international] distress?”
— Amr El Nady, head of hotels and hospitality for the Middle East and Africa at business advisory JLL