Saudis miss out on Eid breaks in Dubai because of travel ban

Saudi Arabia’s ban on travel to the UAE has disrupted summer holiday plans for citizens and residents, especially during this month’s Eid Al Adha break, when many usually spend time in Dubai.

Authorities suspended flights to and from the UAE, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Afghanistan from July 4 because of concerns about the spread of Covid-19 variants. Passengers returning from these countries after that date are required to spend time in institutional quarantine.

Saudi citizen Lana Nasser, 24, said she instead planned to visit France, but changing travel rules and restrictions had made it difficult to decide.

“I don’t want to be stuck in a country in such unpredictable and scary times,” said Ms Nasser. “I know my government will fly me back from wherever I am, since they have handled the pandemic so well.

“But I don’t want to take the risk and add that pressure on authorities or even my family.”

Foreigners who live in the kingdom fear they may not be allowed back in if they leave.

“Our jobs and livelihood are in Saudi Arabia and we can’t risk leaving,” said Zoya Khan, a Pakistani resident of Jeddah.

“I wanted to take my kids to Dubai because it’s close and we didn’t want to go Pakistan because it’s unsafe.”

According to Dubai Tourism, the emirate received 1.6 million visitors from Saudi Arabia in 2019, before the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia reopened its borders on May 17, allowing its citizens to travel abroad after a 14-month lockdown. Many Saudis booked flights to the UAE for the Eid Al Adha holiday, expected to begin around July 20.

“I know I can still go but I cannot afford to come back and quarantine for 14 days. I haven’t travelled since the ban last year and don’t know when I will be able to board a plane again,” said Hussein Mohafez, a Saudi marketing officer in Jeddah.