German Foreign Minister feels Red Sea tension as plane forced to divert to Saudi Arabia

Germany’s foreign minister was forced to make an unplanned stopover in Saudi Arabia after it was deemed too unsafe to fly over Yemen on her way to Africa.

Annalena Baerbock said her government aircraft lacked a permit to fly over Eritrea on its way to Djibouti, the first stop on a three-day visit to the continent, but with Yemen considered unsafe, it had to land in Jeddah.

She said in a statement that the unplanned stop was a reflection of the overall instability in the region because nearby countries Yemen and Sudan could not be used as flyover routes because of armed conflicts there.

"When things happen that are not actually planned, you have to be flexible," the Green party politician said, adding that in a region hit by conflict not everything can run "as it would in normal, peaceful times”.

Overflight authorisations are commonly granted during the course of a flight but no clearance was given, and the Eritrean Foreign Ministry could not assist.

Instead, her German government plane circled over the Red Sea before finally landing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to refuel, delegation sources told AFP.

Ms Baerbock said she planned to convey a message in Djibouti that Germany and the European Union were working on ways to protect Red Sea shipping routes from attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia.

"This is a protective mission for ships in the region, and that means such a defensive mission by the Europeans, should it be agreed, would not constitute attacks on Yemen," she said.

Last August Ms Baerbock's planned week-long trip to the Indo-Pacific region had to be cancelled because of repeated mechanical issues with her government plane.

The tour was abandoned after the German Air Force plane made two aborted attempts to set off from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

On both occasions the crew noticed a “technical fault” with the wing flaps on the aircraft, which had stopped off at Abu Dhabi to refuel.

The military announced the Airbus A340 would be retired after the latest in a string of embarrassing mishaps for German officials travelling abroad.

if you go

The flights

Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.

The tour

While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm

Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh130,000

On sale: now

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Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.