Emirates bans Saudi-bound tourists from 21 countries, including China, Philippines, Pakistan and India

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PHOTO BY ARCHIVE

Emirates bans Saudi-bound tourists from 21 countries, including China, Philippines, Pakistan and India

DUBAI – Emirates airline on Thursday (February 27) announced that tourists from China, Philippines, Pakistan, India and 17 other countries are banned from boarding Emirates flights to Saudi Arabia over coronavirus fears.

The airline said it will refuse boarding for passengers heading to Saudi Arabia for a visit or to join the Umrah pilgrimage.

The ban is in compliance with a Saudi government directive to contain the new coronavirus outbreak. The ban will be in place until further notice.

All Emirates passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visa will not be permitted to board their flights.

Emirates will also ban travel for all passengers on tourist visa from the following countries:

Afghanistan
Azerbaijan
China (including Hong Kong and Macau)
India
Indonesia
Iran
Italy
Kazakhstan
Lebanon
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Pakistan
Philippines
Singapore
Somalia
Syria
Thailand
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen

Emirates said that customers holding tickets for Saudi-bound flights or coming from the aforementioned countries “will not be accepted for boarding at their point of origin until further notice”. Read the full notice under Operational Changes section

Earlier on Thursday, coronavirus fears prompted the Saudi Foreign Ministry to temporarily suspend visas for pilgrims wishing to visit Makkah. ICA/Expat Media

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