Gulf air embargo only applies to Qatar companies: UAE

CAIRO- 13 June 2017: The air embargo imposed on Qatar only applies to airlines from Qatar or registered there, the United Arab Emirates Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement early Tuesday.

The statement added that the decision does not include the aviation companies and aircraft not registered in the UAE or Qatar, and wishing to cross the country's airspace to and from Qatar.

It noted, in regard to the passage of private and chartered aircraft of the UAE airspace from and to Qatar, non-Qatari private and chartered flights, must submit a prior request to the concerned authority at the General Civil Aviation Authority at least 24 hours, including a list of names and nationalities of crews and passengers, and the cargo carried by the aircraft.

The GCAA also reiterated its full commitment to the provisions and of the Convention on International Civil Aviation "Chicago Convention 1944" and other relevant conventions to ensure the safety of international civil aviation, and the flow of international air traffic over the skies of the UAE.

"At the same time, the State reserves the sovereign right under international law to take any precautionary measures to protect its national security if necessary," said the statement.

The authority also affirmed its commitment to international resolutions on the fight against terrorism and aviation security, particularly the Security Council Resolution No. 2309, adopted by the Security Council at its 7775th session, held on 22nd September 2016, in which it expresses its commitment to the sovereignty of all States, including their sovereignty over the airspace above their territories, territorial integrity, and political independence in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

The Security Council also expresses its concern in the same resolution that the civil aviation may be used as a means of transporting foreign terrorist fighters, and notes in this regard that Annex 9 "Governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, concluded in Chicago on December 7, 1944 "Chicago Convention," recommends standards and practices related to the detection and prevention of terrorist threats related to civil aviation.

The GCAA said that it would exercise its right to impose further measures that could guarantee the security and safety of its sovereign airspace from any threat or risk in accordance with the laws and conventions governing the movement of air traffic over its airspace.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain issued identical statements on the air embargo, which came into effect when Cairo, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Manama broke off relations with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting "terrorism".

The embargo bans “all Qatari aviation companies and aircraft registered in the state of Qatar” from landing or transiting through the airspace of the Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, according to the statements published by the national agencies of the three countries.

The ban does not apply to aviation companies and aircraft not registered in Qatar and the three neighbouring countries, and which wish to cross their airspace to and from Qatar, they said.

Egypt Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are among several countries which last week announced the suspension of all ties to Qatar over what they say is the state's support for extremist groups.