Saudi forces cancel UAE flight to Socotra

Yemeni and foreign tourists gather to admire an example of the Dragon Blood tree on the virtually untouched Yemeni Island of Socotra [KHALED FAZAA/AFP via Getty Images]

Saudi forces in Yemen’s Socotra yesterday cancelled a UAE flight that was heading to the archipelago’s airport due to a lack of coordination with the Yemeni embassy in Abu Dhabi.

A local source told Yemen’s Shabab Net news site that the Socotra Airport witnessed severe congestion yesterday after the UAE’s Air Arabia flight was forced to postpone its arrival.

He explained that the Saudi forces cancelled the trip due to crowds of tourists and foreign media professionals who are regularly brought by the UAE to Socotra without coordination with the Yemeni government.

The unnamed source confirmed that “the UAE is imposing its control over foreign tourism coming to Socotra”, noting that “any foreign tourist who wants to visit the island today is required to come through Abu Dhabi”.

READ: Houthi gov’t slams UAE over Israel tourists on Socotra and air base on Mayun island

International reports indicate that Israeli and foreign tourists arrive in Socotra after receiving visas granted by Abu Dhabi without obtaining permission from the Yemeni government.

Since June 2020, the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) militias have imposed complete control over the Socotra archipelago governorate.

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