LONDON: The UK government has taken three Gulf countries off its mandatory quarantine list, which instructs arrivals to self-isolate for two weeks to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Travelers from the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar will no longer have to adhere to the quarantine regulations.

Paul Charles, CEO of PC Agency travel consultants, welcomed the move to ease travel to and from the Arab states, calling it “a highly significant decision and a major boost to opening up long-haul travel from the UK again.”

He added: “Unlocking Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar enables UK travelers to reach most corners of the world to the east and south … These moves show that the government is serious about connecting the UK to the world again, despite the pandemic.”