For time eternal, the world has always experienced disagreements and the resultant strife and sadness that often is the byproduct. So it’s good to see when efforts are made to put the arguments aside and work together to make the world a better place.
As we often proclaim here, travel is one way to rise above the discontent and build bridges. So, we are happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Egypt will open their air, land and sea borders with Qatar (who are also one of our travel partners.)
IATA (International Air Transport Association) said in a statement “The reopening of airspace with Qatar by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Egypt is welcome news for the region, passengers and the aviation industry during these very difficult times,” said Muhammad Al Bakri, IATA’s regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East.
“This will permit the resumption of direct flights between these countries and Qatar, eliminating complex transit travel itineraries that saw typical journey times increase from under an hour to over five hours in some cases. The agreement also opens the door for the establishment of quarantine-free travel corridors, which will allow families and friends across the region to be able to reconnect and businesses trade more easily. And will facilitate the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines globally given the region’s strategic location.”
So, start thinking about your next trip to the Middle East. There is much to see and do!