UAE facilitates repatriation of British nationals

The UAE has helped repatriate hundreds of British citizens in coordination with the UK government.

A chartered Emirates Airline plane flew out 345 passengers on Sunday, April 5. They were unable to return home after the closure of the UAE’s airports on March 24.

Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the British Embassy in the UAE also helped several British citizens depart on commercial flights, including a FlyDubai service on March 28.

Ambassador Patrick Moody, British Ambassador to the UAE, said: "This has happened because of the hard work of my team and the team at the UAE Embassy in London, and the fantastic cooperation of the UAE government."

This morning 345 British travellers left on an evacuation flight to the UK. Great work by everyone involved. pic.twitter.com/G3Eao6R44j

— Patrick Moody (@PMoodyFCDO) April 5, 2020

“At all times we have sought to minimise disruption to travellers’ lives, while limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the UAE," said Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti Al Maktoum, Director of the Dubai office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

He is the lead organiser of the Ministry’s efforts to help foreign nationals return home after the international air travel ban.