The UAE’s ambassador has voiced disappointment at the Gulf region remaining on the UK’s red list to limit international travel.
The home of Dubai and Abu Dhabi claims to be one of the safest countries in the world in relation to Covid-19.
UAE ambassador to the UK, Mansoor Abulhoul, said: “It is disappointing to see that the UAE has remained on the UK’s red travel list.
“We have best-in-class health and safety infrastructure to protect visitors and residents.
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“This includes rapid testing, social distancing and sanitisation procedures at our airports, as well as Emirates and Etihad airlines fully sanitising all planes.
“Additionally, the UAE is among the top countries in the world for both vaccination rate and its testing programme.”
He added: “We have strict controls to guard against troubling variants and have bespoke travel arrangements with several countries for vaccinated passengers, including Greece and Italy, and we look forward to negotiating similar solutions with other countries.
“Our aim is to allow families and friends separated by Covid-19 to reunite as soon as possible and to resume our crucial business and leisure travel links.”
A spokesperson added: “We’re hoping to be able to welcome back British travellers as soon as possible, and know that many Emiratis, as well as the hundreds of thousands of Britons living in the UAE, are keen to make a trip to the UK to see their family and loved ones.”