Oman permits Qatari nationals to fly to Saudi Arabia

Oman Air announced yesterday that Qatari nationals can travel to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage via Oman.

Authorities in Muscat have given Qataris the green light to travel to Muscat and use Oman’s national airline to fly directly to Saudi Arabia for umrah.

بناء على التعليمات الصادرة من الجهات المختصة، يسمح لمواطني دولة #قطر السفر على متن #الطيران_العماني إلى جدة عن طريق مسقط لأداء مناسك العمرة.

— Oman Air (@omanair) June 13, 2017

The decision eases travel for Qataris after a siege was imposed on the small Gulf state on 5 June. Following the Saudi and UAE-led action, Qatar’s national carrier was banned from using its neighbours’ airspace, forcing flights to divert over Iran.

Qatar is seeking alternate trade links to sustain itself after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt announced the boycott claiming Doha supports terrorist organisations and interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. Qatar vehemently denies the allegations and says it is being subjected to “incitement… based on lies”.