One of the busiest air transport hubs in the world, Dubai International Airport, made the decision to suspend all passenger flights for at least two weeks yesterday in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates and as flight demand waned. The only flights that will continue to operate out of the airport for the next two weeks will be freight and emergency evacuations, according to a statement from…

The General Civil Aviation Authority and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority of the United Arab Emirates have brought forward the directive to suspend all transit, inbound and outbound passenger flights in the country. The announcement was made yesterday in a statement from Etihad Airways, with the decision being made in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus and protect residents, citizens and overseas travellers alike. The result of the move…

The famous malls in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates are being shut down and all passenger flights have been suspended to and from the city, capping off a number of shutdowns in formerly thriving sectors that serve as the emirate’s economic lifeblood. The moves have been taken to stem the spread of the coronavirus, with the closing of airports to commercial flights, restaurants restricted to home deliveries, and shopping centre closures coming just days…

With over 200,000 people affected by the coronavirus in more than 144 countries, the pandemic is showing no signs of abating, and extreme precautions are resulting in ordinary life grinding to a halt. Drastic measures have been taken by authorities to control the spread, including shutting down workplaces, schools and offices and telling people to remain in their homes. However, this has caused an economic crisis, with the hospitality sector in the United Arab Emirates…

All passenger operations will be temporarily suspended by Emirates in the United Arab Emirates as the world slows to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic. The airline has been trying to keep passenger flights operating for as long as it could in a bid to help travellers get home in the wake of more and more travel restrictions and bans as well as an increasing number of nations locking down all over the world.…

Yesterday, a virtual steering committee meeting was convened by Expo 2020 Dubai featuring representatives from the nations set to take part in the event, which should begin in October, to discuss the impact of coronavirus on preparations. Expo 2020 Dubai is paying close attention to ongoing developments in the crisis and is intent on making the adjustments necessary to planned preparations if and when circumstances demand it. The main priority is the health and wellbeing…

The United Arab Emirates is initiating sweeping measures in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus with a ban on all citizens going overseas until further notice. The move, which was implemented on Wednesday and Thursday, will also see the cessation of visas-on-arrival and the imposition of a mandatory 14-day quarantine on anyone who enters the UAE, with prosecution promised for any violators. The measure, which is intended to be temporary, has been enacted…

Services to 35 destinations have been suspended by Emirates across the airline’s network in an attempt to be in compliance with travel restrictions introduced to stop the spread of coronavirus via air travel. The most recent destinations that have been suspended include Algiers, Barcelona, Cairo, Madrid, Mexico City and Tunis. The new restrictions come on top of an ever-expanding list of services that have been cancelled just one day after flights to Basra, Larnaca, Malta…

The United Arab Emirates and its capital city of Abu Dhabi are making moves to bolster trade and cultural ties as well as tourism by playing host to a number of initiatives in the countdown to Expo 2020, with India likely to be one of the main focal points. India will most likely be the main market at the annual retail event, which normally has millions of visitors attending. To recognise how significant Indian culture…

Airline travel agencies within the United Arab Emirates are experiencing a sharp increase in the cancellation of bookings as restrictions on passenger flights are imposed by more and more countries. Between 60% and 80% of passengers have either changed their travel dates or cancelled altogether after fees for data changes were waived by airlines, according to Smart Travel’s managing director Afi Ahmed. 80% of cancellations had been made even before the UAE had issued a…