Qatar crisis: How you will be affected

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Dubai - Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Maldives have undertaken the measure of severing diplomatic ties with Qatar.

By Team KT

Published: Tue 6 Jun 2017, 6:54 PM

Last updated: Wed 7 Jun 2017, 5:00 PM

According to UAE news agency WAM, the UAE has severed all relations with the State of Qatar, including breaking off diplomatic relations, giving Qatari diplomats 48 hours to leave the UAE. This is in support of statements of Kingdom of Bahrain and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Qatar.

The UAE move bars Qatari nationals from entering the UAE or crossing its points of entry, and Qatari residents and visitors in the UAE have been given 14 days to leave the country for precautionary security reasons.

UAE nationals are likewise banned from traveling to or staying in Qatar or transiting through its territories.

The countries that have undertaken the measure of severing diplomatic ties with Qatar include Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Maldives.

As the issue develops, several questions emerge on how this will impact UAE residents and visitors. Below is a quick rundown of answers to some of these questions based on what we know so far:

How can I travel to Qatar from the UAE if it is absolutely necessary?

If you're booked on flights from the UAE to Doha today (June 5), you can still travel as scheduled. However, UAE-based airlines -- Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia -- have announced this morning that they shall be suspending all flights to Qatar from June 6, 2017.

Since direct flights to Doha will not be plying tomorrow onwards, you may exit to Kuwait or Oman (or another destination of your convenience) and then take a connecting flight to your home country.

An Emirates spokesperson confirmed to Khaleej Times: "As instructed by the UAE government, Emirates will suspend its flights to and from Doha, starting from the morning of June 6, 2017, until further notice."

The last Emirates flight from Dubai to Doha will depart as EK847 at 02:30am on June 6. The last flight from Doha to Dubai will depart as EK848 at 03:50am on June 6.

"The last flight from Abu Dhabi to Doha will depart as EY399 at 02:45 (local time) on 6 June. The last flight from Doha to Abu Dhabi will depart as EY390 at 04:00 (local time) on 6 June. Flights on 5 June will operate as normal," a spokesperson from Etihad said in a press statement issued to Khaleej Times.

A flydubai spokesperson confirmed to Khaleej Times, "From Tuesday 06 June 2017, all flydubai flights between Dubai and Doha will be suspended."

Passengers who have purchased tickets for travel between Dubai and Doha are advised to contact their travel agent, the flydubai travel shop in Doha on 00974 4 4227350/51 or their Contact Centre in Dubai on (00971) 600 54 44 45 to arrange a refund.

Air Arabia, too, said on Monday that it will suspend flights between Sharjah and Doha effective Tuesday until further notice.

The airline's last outbound flight from Sharjah to Doha departed at 18:30 local time on Monday, while the last inbound flight from Doha to Sharjah departed on Monday at 19:25 local time.

It must be noted that Saudi Arabian Airlines and Bahrain's Gulf Air, too, have suspended flights to and from Qatar.

I am Qatari tourist and was planning to stay on until next month. What should I do?

Unfortunately, you'll have to exit in the next couple of weeks. The UAE has given Qatari residents and visitors in the UAE 14 days to leave the country for precautionary security reasons. You must exit the country within this period.

Since direct flights to Doha will not be plying tomorrow onwards, you may exit to Kuwait or Oman (or another destination of your convenience) and then take a connecting flight to your home country.

I'm a Qatari national living in the UAE. Should I exit too?

Yes, you must leave in the next 14 days. According to WAM, the UAE has announced "closure of UAE airspace and seaports for all Qataris in 24 hours and banning all Qatari means of transportation, coming to or leaving the UAE, from crossing, entering or leaving the UAE territories, and taking all legal measures in collaboration with friendly countries and international companies with regards to Qataris using the UAE airspace and territorial waters, from and to Qatar, for national security considerations."

I'm an Emirati citizen. Can I transit through Qatar?

No. According to WAM, "the UAE nationals are likewise banned from traveling to or staying in Qatar or transiting through its territories".

Will Qatari diplomatic missions in the UAE still be open?

Unlikely. Since the UAE has decided to "sever all relations with the State of Qatar, including breaking off diplomatic relations, and gives Qatari diplomats 48 hours to leave the UAE," all Qatari nationals manning the diplomatic missions will be exiting the UAE. This will include consular and embassy staff.