Long-term Golden Visa holders exempted from travel restrictions introduced amid escalating regional tensions.
DUBAI — Iranian nationals are no longer permitted to enter or transit through the United Arab Emirates, Dubai-based carriers Emirates and Flydubai announced Wednesday, in a significant escalation of travel restrictions amid heightened regional tensions.
The new policy, outlined on both airlines’ websites, bars Iranian passport holders from entering the UAE or using its airports as a transit point. However, Iranian nationals holding UAE Golden Visas are exempt from the restrictions and remain authorized to enter and transit the country, according to Flydubai’s advisory.
The Golden Visa is a long-term residency program that grants foreign nationals the right to live, work, and study in the UAE without a national sponsor.
The airlines did not specify the duration of the restrictions or provide further details on the implementation of the policy. Official confirmation from UAE government authorities has not yet been issued.
The move comes as tensions between Iran and Gulf states intensify against the backdrop of the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. The UAE has been actively involved in regional defense operations, with its air defense forces successfully intercepting drones and missiles in recent weeks. Earlier this week, debris from an interception fell on a farm in Fujairah, killing a Bangladeshi worker—the 12th civilian death in the UAE since the conflict began.
Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, serves as a critical transit point for passengers traveling between East and West. The restrictions are expected to have significant implications for Iranian travelers and the aviation sector.
