São Paulo – Several Arab countries have either restricted access or completely shut down their borders over the past few days to keep the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at bay, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Oman, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria and Lebanon, news outlets from across the region and the World Health Organization (WHO) have reported.
According to the WHO, cases have been reported in significant numbers in Arab countries, notably Qatar (442), Bahrain (256), Saudi Arabia (238), Egypt (196) and Iraq (164). See a map here. Iran, which shares borders with Arab countries in the Gulf, has the third biggest number of cases in the world, trailing only China and Italy, at 17,000 according to the WHO.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE have suspended entry of all immigrants with valid visas and residency visas currently away from the country, for a renewable two-week period as of last Thursday (19). Visa renewal will be conditioned to a health exam. The country also prohibited its citizens from traveling and suspended work visa issuances, effective indefinitely. According to the WHO, there are 113 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country.
UAE residents currently abroad are advised to contact the country’s diplomatic representation wherever they are to get “all necessary support in order to facilitate their return to the United Arab Emirates.”
Emirates airline suspended services to 55 destinations in the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania and the Middle East. Flights to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Santiago in Chile are suspended from March 25 to May 20.
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also suspended flights for a two-week period counting from March 15. This Friday (20), the administration said all domestic flights will be grounded for 14 days as of Saturday (21), with the exception of humanitarian aid, medical evacuation and private flights. Saudi Arabia has 238 cases of coronavirus.
Kuwait
Authorities suspended all commercial flights to and from Kuwait on March 13, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. There are 142 cases in the country according to the WHO. Only cargo flights will be permitted. Kuwaiti citizens and their families will be allowed to enter the country. Citizens are prohibited from going to restaurants, cafés and malls.
Qatar
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the suspension of all incoming flights for two weeks counting from Wednesday (18), with cases numbering at 442 as per WHO data from this Friday (20). Incoming citizens will be quarantined for 14 days. Exception is made to stopovers, cargo flights, and flights bringing Qatari citizens in from other countries.
Algeria
The administration announced the suspension of air and sea travel to and from Europe on Thursday (19). Prior to that, flights to and from Morocco, Spain, France and China had been cancelled. The WHO’s coronavirus case count in Algeria is 72.
Egypt
All air traffic is suspended in Egypt from March 19 to 31 according to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The case count is 196.
Iraq
Iraq suspended flights to and from Baghdad International Airport and all domestic flights from March 17 to 24. The case count is 164.
Jordan
Jordan shut down its borders with Palestine and prohibited inbound cargo from Egypt at its seaports on March 17. It also banned land passenger traffic from Iraq. The case count is 52.
Travel to Lebanon and Syria is prohibited, as is entry of passengers from France, Germany and Spain. Air travel to Egypt is working at 50%.
Lebanon
The Lebanese government suspended flights from Italy, Iran, China and South Korea on March 11. The following day it shut down the Syrian border effective indefinitely. There are 133 coronavirus cases in Lebanon. Pictured at the beginning of this report is a deserted Beirut International Airport on this Thursday (19).
Libya
The Libyan administration in Tripoli suspended all flights to and from Misrata Airport for three weeks. The borders are also closed. Case numbers are not available for Libya.
Morocco
The Moroccan administration suspended flights to and from 25 countries on March 14. Apart from China, Italy, France, Spain and Algeria, which had been on the list earlier, new additions include Germany, Austria, Bahrein, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, UAE, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, the Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Senegal, Switzerland, Sweden, Tunisia and Turkey. The case count is 49.
Oman
Oman suspended tourist visas from all countries and banned all incoming cruise liners. On March 18 it banned entry of all foreigners, including expatriates with residency visas. Case count is 33.
Sudan
With only one case according to the WHO, Sudan shut down its borders, airports and seaports on March 16. Exception is made to humanitarian aid, cargo and technical support.
Tunisia
With 29 cases, Tunisia shut down its mosques, cafés and markets, land borders and international flights on March 16. A curfew from 6pm to 6am is in place since March 18.
Yemen
In Yemen, all flights are suspended for two weeks from March 18, except for humanitarian services. Data regarding cases is not available.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
