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The UAE has helped more than 20,000 people who have fled Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban regaining control of the country.
Afra Al Hameli, Deputy Director of Strategic Communications at the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, announced on social media that "up to today, the UAE has facilitated the evacuation of 20,522 people from Afghanistan".
She posted that the UAE had facilitated the evacuation of 12,022 people, mainly nationals from the UK, US, France, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Spain and Mexico.
Foreign nationals that have utilised UAE airports or aircrafts since the beginning of August to escape Afghanistan now total 8,500.
Leaders of the G7 advanced economies are expected to pledge unity on whether or not to officially recognise or sanction the Taliban when they meet virtually to discuss Afghanistan on Tuesday, according to two diplomatic sources.
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A British Royal Air Force aircraft arrives at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai on August 19 after carrying people out of Afghanistan's capital Kabul. All pictures: Pawan Singh / The National -
The Boeing C-17 transport aircraft is involved in an international effort by countries to extract their nationals and Afghans whose lives may be in danger. -
Passengers are transferred from the aircraft on to a waiting bus. -
Passengers from RAF flight ZZ172 arrive at Al Maktoum International Airport. -
From there they will be transferred to a commercial aircraft to be flown to the UK within the next 24 hours, officials have said. -
Thousands of people have sought to flee Afghanistan since Taliban militants took control of Kabul. -
Passengers from the evacuation flight from Kabul wait to be processed at Al Maktoum International Airport.
