DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates said on Thursday it would resume flights to Tunisia after an exchange of security information.
A statement by the foreign ministry on state news agency WAM said the decision was taken in light of extensive security cooperation and information received from the Tunisian side that eased the national carriers’ concerns.
“In light of preventing dangers and threats that should be avoided to the largest degree, and in light of an extensive security dialogue and information received from the Tunisian side, the concerned authorities in the UAE have decided to return to normal procedures before the extraordinary circumstance,” the statement said.
Tunisia banned Emirates airline from landing in the capital Tunis after a number of Tunisian women were prevented from boarding its flights.
The move came amid widespread anger in Tunisia, with rights groups condemning “racist and discriminatory” measures.
The transport ministry said the measure would stay in place until Emirates was able to “operate flights in accordance with law and international agreements.”
The UAE said “security information” had caused the delays.
“We contacted our Tunisian brothers about security information that necessitated taking specific procedures,” Emirati Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash said on Twitter.
“We highly value Tunisian women and respect them,” he added.
Strained ties
Tunisian government officials said the UAE had banned Tunisian women from flying to or transiting through its territory.
On Friday the Tunisian government said it had asked the UAE ambassador to clarify what was happening and had been told that the measures had been temporary and had already been lifted.
Local media reported that Tunisian women had been blocked from boarding Emirates flights to Dubai over several days.
According to AFP news agency, some Tunisian women said their journeys to the UAE had been delayed and some that their visas had to undergo additional examination.
Tunisia has been trying to improve relations with the UAE that were damaged by its 2011 revolution.
UAE says to resume flights to Tunis after security cooperation
UAE says to resume flights to Tunis after security cooperation
Egypt says it paid $5 billion to foreign oil partners, targets arrears cut
- The government was also meeting the partners’ monthly invoices
- A foreign currency shortage forced Egypt to delay payments to international oil companies
CAIRO: Egypt has paid about $5 billion in overdue bills to foreign oil and gas partners and aims to bring remaining arrears down to $1.2 billion by June 2026, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said.
Arrears stood at $6.1 billion on June 30, 2024, he said in a statement, adding the government was also meeting the partners’ monthly invoices.
A foreign currency shortage forced Egypt to delay payments to international oil companies operating in Egypt, slowing investment and contributing to a drop in gas output that forced it to rely heavily on imports from 2022, whether from neighboring Israel or costly LNG cargoes.
But following a giant $35 billion deal in 2024 with the United Arab Emirates for the rights to develop a prime stretch of Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, Egypt started paying back oil companies.
Egypt produced 3,635 million cubic meters of gas in October last year, up slightly from 3,525 million cubic meters in September but down from 3,851 million cubic meters in October 2024, according to the Joint Organizations Data Initiative.
