Flights from Dubai to UK banned as UAE added to Covid travel ‘red list’

The UAE’s addition to the UK's "red list" is likely to cause problems for celebrities currently abroad in Dubai
Dubai Skyline
Dubai’s skyline 
Getty Images

Flights from Dubai to the UK will be banned after the United Arab Emirates was added the country’s travel “red list” over fears of new Covid variants.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Burundi and Rwanda would also be added the list of banned countries. The rules come into effect at 1pm on Friday.

It means that anyone who has been in or transited though those three countries will be denied entry to the UK, except for British and Irish citizens or anyone with residency rights.

Last year Dubai was named the world’s busiest airport for international traffic for the sixth year in a row.

During the pandemic, the glitzy emirate has been a popular getaway destination for many British social media influencers, who have been criticised for breaking lockdown rules.

Announcing the new rules, Mr Shapps said that travellers from the three countries will not face hotel quarantine, and will instead self-isolate at home.

He tweeted: “From tomorrow (Friday 29 Jan at 1pm), we’re extending our travel ban with the United Arab Emirates, Burundi and Rwanda all added to the UK’s red list.

“This means people who have been in or transited through these countries will be denied entry, except British, Irish and third country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for ten days at HOME.

“Passengers must still have proof of a negative test and completed Passenger Locator Form before arrival – or could otherwise face a £500 fine for each.”

FILE PHOTO: The Global Village in Dubai
People wear face masks at the Global Village in Dubai
REUTERS

Direct passenger flights from the UAE to the UK will also be banned from Friday, causing major disruption to people returning from Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

The Department for Transport advised British nationals currently in the UAE that they can use “indirect commercial routes” to return home.

The addition of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the UK's "red list" is likely to cause problems for celebrities currently abroad in Dubai.

Celebrities who have uploaded photos which appear to show them in Dubai in recent weeks include The Only Way Is Essex's James Lock and Yazmin Oukhellou.

On Thursday, Lock shared a video to his Instagram Stories of an indoor ski slope.

Former Love Island contestants Gabby Allen and Georgia Harrison have both also posted from Dubai this month, with the latter writing in her Instagram bio: "Living in Dubai."

The announcement comes a day after Home Secretary Priti Patel hit out at influencers, stating there are “still too many people coming in and out of our country each day” despite the coronavirus lockdown.

She said: “We see plenty of influencers on social media showing off about which parts of the world that they are in, mainly in sunny parts of the world.

“Going on holiday is not an exemption and it’s important that people stay at home.”

Ms Patel launched a series of tougher border measures on Wednesday, including a requirement for people to declare their reason for leaving the UK, and increased police enforcement of the ban on holidays.

She also confirmed that people returning from “red list” countries will be taken to quarantine hotels for 10 days, but it is not known when this policy will be implemented.

This led to an angry response from travel firms demanding sector-specific support from the Government.

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