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There have been a number of developments in recent days that will affect the travel plans of UAE residents and citizens. Saudi Arabia is suspending passenger flights to and from the UAE at 11pm on Sunday, meaning that airlines in the Emirates will no longer be able to fly to any destinations in the kingdom, for an unspecified period of time.
UAE authorities have also compiled a list of countries that Emiratis are prohibited from visiting, and Emirates has responded by extending its suspension of flights to India, South Africa and Nigeria.
Here are some of the latest updates.
Saudi Arabia suspends travel from the UAE
Saudi Arabia is closing its borders to travellers from the UAE, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Afghanistan, in an attempt to curb the spread of new, highly transmissible Covid-19 variants. The ban is due to go into effect at 11pm on Sunday.
The kingdom is suspending passenger flights to and from all four countries. Saudi citizens are banned from travelling to these destinations, unless they receive special permission from authorities.
The country's citizens are currently also banned from travelling to Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela, Belarus and India.
Saudi Arabia lifted travel restrictions on 11 countries, including the UAE, in May, after a 14-month lockdown. The country is still welcoming travellers from the US, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan.
Vaccinated Saudi citizens, or those who have recovered from Covid-19, have also been allowed to travel outside the kingdom since May, but the Ministry of Interior is calling for caution and advising people to “stay away from areas where the virus is spreading, and follow all precautionary measures, regardless of their destination”, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Emirates is operating extra flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam on Sunday to help Saudi nationals and residents return to the country as soon as possible.
Emirates' final flights to and from Saudi Arabia on Sunday are: Dubai‑Jeddah‑Dubai – EK2805 / EK2806; Dubai‑Riyadh‑Dubai – EK2817/ EK 2818; and Dubai‑Dammam‑Dubai – EK2821/ EK2822.
According to a statement from the airline: “Customers with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia as their final destination, arriving on/after July 5, 2021, will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin.”
Emiratis banned from travel to India, Pakistan and South Africa
UAE authorities have announced that Emiratis are prohibited from travelling to a number of countries, including India, Pakistan and South Africa. Also on the list are Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.
The announcement came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority on Thursday.
Both entities said UAE diplomatic missions in the countries, emergency treatment cases, official delegations and previously authorised business and technical delegates were exempt from the decision.
Emirates and Etihad extend suspension of India flights
Emirates is extending its ban on passenger flights from India until Thursday, July 15. During this period, passengers who have transited through India in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other points to the UAE, the Dubai airline said.
Passengers who have already booked tickets for travel before this date can keep those open for a future flight on an unspecified date, or rebook for a future date.
UAE nationals, holders of the country's golden visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with the revised published Covid‑19 protocols are exempt and may be accepted to travel.
The airline has also extended its ban on arrivals from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka until July 15.
Etihad has also extended its suspension of flights to all destinations in India. In an official statement, the airline said: "Following the latest UAE government directives, passenger travel from India to the UAE and Etihad's network has been suspended effective until [Wednesday] July 21."
Emirates suspends flights to Nigeria and South Africa
Dubai's airline has also announced that passenger flights to and from Nigeria are suspended until Thursday, July 15. It had been operating services to Lagos and Abuja.
Customers travelling to these two destinations will no longer be accepted for travel, and customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the past 14 days are not permitted to board from any other point to the UAE.
Emirates’ flights from South Africa to Dubai will also remain suspended until Thursday, July 15, in line with government directives that restrict the entry of travellers originating from South Africa into the UAE.
The airline will continue to operate a daily outbound flight to Johannesburg, EK763, but its EK764 service has been cancelled. Customers who have been to or connected through South Africa in the past 14 days will not be permitted on any Emirates flights bound for Dubai.
Supreme Committee urges caution when travelling overseas
Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management is encouraging citizens and residents to only travel this summer if they are fully vaccinated. With the peak summer travel season about to begin, the committee urged citizens and residents planning to only embark on overseas journeys at least 14 days after receiving the second dose of their vaccine.
Travellers are also being urged to exercise extreme caution when travelling overseas and to avoid visiting destinations experiencing serious outbreaks of Covid-19.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
MATCH INFO
FA Cup fifth round
Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
