UAE bans all Iran flights as Gulf states impose restrictions
Move reflects growing concern over spread of virus in Iran, amid worries of a cover-up
The UAE yesterday banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak of the new coronavirus, just a day after its spread from the Islamic Republic was announced across multiple Middle East nations. Iran meanwhile raised the official death toll from the virus to 15 killed amid 95 confirmed infections.
The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran’s 80 million people.
The flight ban, which will last at least a week, shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus in Iran amid worries the outbreak may be larger than what authorities there now acknowledge.
The Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority made the announcement through WAM, just hours after Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, said there would be restrictions on flights there.
“All passenger and cargo aircraft
Dubai has been screening passengers on incoming flights from China, where the outbreak began in December.
travelling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension,” the authority said. “The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus.”
The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah.
Bahrain’s Health Ministry yesterday raised the number of infected cases from the new virus to 23, saying that all had travelled from Iran. Four of them have been identified as Saudi nationals. Dubai has been screening passengers on incoming flights from China, where the outbreak began in December.
Also yesterday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases to eight. It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back from Iran.