ExCeL London centre offers rent-free service to NHS to treat Covid-19 patients: Adnec

ExCeL London, owned by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec), isn't charging NHS Nightingale London any amount as rent and offering the venue for free, top officials clarified.
ExCeL London exhibition venue was transformed into an emergency field hospital for the treatment of patients who have been infected with Covid-19.
Britain's Prince Charles had opened the facility with a capacity of 4,000 patients on Friday.
A UK newspaper 'Sunday Times' published a report: 'Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi charges NHS millions in rent for super-hospital in ExCeL London'. The report alleged the ExCeL was charging NHS rents worth 2m-3m pounds a month.
Refuting the allegations, Jeremy Rees, Chief Executive, ExCeL London, said: "The use of ExCeL London for NHS Nightingale London has always been provided to the NHS rent free. 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."
He noted that the initial agreement with the NHS included a 'contribution to some fixed costs' but ExCeL decided to cover those.
"The ExCeL London facility is fully available to the NHS, and we are here to support all their needs and requirements during this crisis. I've seen first-hand the fantastic work that NHS Nightingale London is doing to save lives and respond to the largest national emergency the UK has faced in a generation. It is a privilege to support the NHS and its wonderful staff working tirelessly night and day to protect people and save lives."
'Profit furthest thing from our minds'
Meanwhile, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, MD and Group CEO of Adnec, underlined the venue was offered rent free as a humanitarian gesture in this hour of crisis.
"Protecting people and saving lives are of the utmost importance as we face this unprecedented global pandemic. We are doing all that we can to help the UK through these challenging times. To be clear, profit has always been the furthest thing from our minds. 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."
Al Dhaheri expressed solidarity with the UK in facing this crisis together as friends and partners.
"It is our firm commitment that we will not charge a penny for the use of our facilities, and we will provide the NHS with the operational and logistical support it needs for NHS Nightingale London."
ExCeL London is London's largest international exhibition and convention centre and was acquired by Adnec is 2008.

• Abu Dhabi

Ashwani Kumar

Ashwani Kumar is a versatile journalist who explores every beat in Abu Dhabi with an insatiable curiosity. He loves uncovering stories that are informative and help readers form their own opinions.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com