Tunisia halts all UAE flights over security measures

Tunisia has halted all United Arab Emirates (UAE) airlines’ flights from landing in the country over security measures.

On Sunday, the Tunisian transport ministry announced that it had “decided to suspend” Emirates flights to Tunis “until the airline is able to find the appropriate solution to operate its flights in accordance with international law and agreements.”

An Emirates spokesman has confirmed the move.

“Emirates will stop services between Tunis and Dubai, as instructed by the Tunisian authorities, with effect from December 25, 2017,” he said.

The announcement came two days after the UAE temporarily issued a travel ban on Tunisian women without further explanation at the time, a move which resulted in an uproar in the North African country.

Shortly after the ban was issued, the UAE ambassador to Tunis was summoned to the Tunisian Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said that “security information” had caused the delays concerning Tunisian women whom were the subject of extra visa examination on Friday.

“We contacted our Tunisian brothers about security information that necessitated taking specific procedures,” UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash.

“We should avoid misleading attempts… We highly value Tunisian women and respect them,” he added.