Travel ban strands visiting Yemeni workers in UAE

Airstrikes on Houthi rebels shut borders and leave Yemen’s expats no way home.

The Yemeni pavilion at the Global Village in Dubai. About 250 Yemeni visitors working here are not sure of their future after the tourist attraction closes its doors on April 11. Satish Kumar / The NaShow more

DUBAI // With airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen having led to a travel ban, hundreds of Yemeni visitors to the UAE are being forced to stay on expired visas.

Yemenis around the world are stranded or stuck in airports as a result of the air and sea ban on the country after the beginning of Operation Decisive Storm, the Saudi-led coalition assault.

Security authorities closed all air, sea and land crossings into Yemen after fighting threw the impoverished Arab state deeper into turmoil.

About 250 Yemeni visitors working at Global Village in Dubai, are not sure of their future after the tourist attraction closes its doors for the summer on April 11.

Abdulhakeem Mohamed Rajeh, 33, a silver jewellery merchant from Sanaa, said: “Right now, we don’t know what our fate is. Our visas are expiring. We are here for the sole purpose of participating in the Global Village.

“If this [travel] ban continues, what are we going to do? We can’t book flights. No plane is landing at any of the airports, not Aden, not Sanaa and not Taez. We’ve been away from our families for five months.”

Mr Rajeh said Yemenis’ unclear legal situation was a concern for everyone from his country that he had spoken to.

“It became the dominating conversation for all of us working here,” he said. “We also don’t know what to do with our stock. Are we going to be able to ship it? This is my 12th time participating in the Global Village. I’m not sure what the next year will hold and if I’ll be able to return.”

In a speech at the opening of the 26th Arab League Summit, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman said Operation Decisive Storm would continue until it achieved its goals for the Yemeni people to enjoy security and stability.

In his address, King Salman said: “Saudi Arabia did not spare any effort to address the situation in Yemen. Houthi intransigence, pursuit of power and control, rejection of all initiatives and their aggression against the Yemeni people led to the military operation.”

Ammar Al Naguib, 25, said: “We don’t wish to stay here longer. We do not want to spend our money here. One of our friends was here to save money to get married. We’d like to hold on to what we have and we just want to go home.

“The Global Village organised for us to come here, like they always do, and we like participating here each year. I don’t think it’s their responsibility to help us; they’re just following protocol. I think our case is an exception. I heard that we might be able to get back to Yemen by land through Oman, but we’re not sure.”

Gulf Air suspended its five weekly flights to Sanaa International Airport shortly before the travel ban.

“Gulf Air is wholly committed to the safety and security of its passengers and crew and will continue to monitor and assess the security situation in and around Sanaa International Airport on a regular basis, working closely with airport and security officials in the Yemeni capital,” the airline said.

Civilian air traffic has also stopped in southern Saudi Arabia as a result of the coalition’s air campaign.