ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates has decided to extend visit visas of British travelers free of charge after the United Kingdom included the Gulf states in its travel ban list along with Burundi and Rwanda. The UK government has also announced a flight ban on direct passenger flights from the UAE. The move, which comes into effect from 1 p.m. (BSTtime) on Friday (Jan. 29), seeks to prevent the spread of the new variant originally identified in South Africa into the UK. Commenting on the UK decision, the UAE said it will continue to maintain its role as an important hub for travel and logistics according to the highest standards of health and safety. Hend Al Otaiba, a top official in the UAE's foreign ministry said: "In light of new variants in other parts of the world, the UAE has intensified efforts to mitigate these risks. New measures include requiring PCR tests for incoming travelers, imposing restrictions on entertainment venues, further limiting gatherings, and implementing awareness campaigns for the general public in a transparent and open manner." "We are confident of our ambitious vaccination program that is ranked second globally in doses administered per capita and have every confidence in our medical infrastructure and frontline workers," Al Otaiba added. Meanwhile, the travel ban does not include British and Irish nationals, or third-country nationals with residence rights in the UK, who will be able to enter the UK but are required to self-isolate for 10 days at home, along with their household, according to a press statement issued by the UK government. Any exemptions usually in place will not apply, including for business travel, the statement read. British nationals currently in the UAE should make use of the commercial options available if they wish to return to the UK, the statement added.
