Flights to Qatar can cross UAE, Saudi airspace

Airplanes travel to or from Doha can now travel across UAE airspace, the General Civil Aviation Authority said yesterday.

Only aircrafts which are registered in Qatar are banned from travelling over Emirati airspace, the revised decision says.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain issued similar statements published by their respective official news agencies.

Read: Oman permits Qatari nationals to fly to Saudi Arabia

According to the new publications, private aircrafts and non-Qatari flights passing through the UAE must submit a request to the concerned body at least 24 hours in advance, including a list of names and nationalities of the crew and passengers, as well as details of the shipment.

The decision came after a complaint filed by Qatar Airways Chief Executive, Akbar Al-Baker, to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) demanding that the ban, imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies be deemed “illegal” and a violation of international conventions on air transport.