Saudi Arabia's ban on travel to the UAE has disrupted summer holiday plans for citizens and residents, especially during the Eid Al Adha break later this month when many traditionally spend time in Dubai.
Saudi authorities suspended flights to and from the UAE, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Afghanistan from July 4, citing concerns about the spread of Covid-19 variants. People returning to the kingdom from these countries after that date are required to undergo institutional quarantine, the Health Ministry said.
The decision has forced those planning a holiday to seek other destinations, but many are finding it difficult to choose.
Saudi citizen Lana Nasser, 24, said she had planned to visit France this summer but changing travel rules and restrictions made it extremely difficult to decide.
“I don't want to be stuck in a country in such unpredictable and scary times,” Ms Nasser told The National.
“I know my government will fly me back from wherever I am since they have handled the pandemic so well and brought back so many Saudis stuck abroad even during lockdown, but I don't want to take the risk and add that pressure on authorities or even my family.”
Foreign residents living in the kingdom fear that they may not be allowed back in if they leave.
“Our jobs and livelihood are in Saudi Arabia and we can't risk leaving the country,” said Zoya Khan, a Pakistani resident of Jeddah.
“I wanted to take my kids to Dubai because it's close and we didn't want to go to Pakistan because it's unsafe. But right now, there is no place I can think of which is 100 per cent safe.”
Right now, there is no place I can think of which is 100 per cent safe.
Zoya Khan,
Pakistani living in Saudi Arabia
According to Dubai Tourism, the emirate received 1.6 million visitors from Saudi Arabia in 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted global travel as countries closed borders to contain the spread of the disease.
Saudi Arabia reopened its land, sea and air borders on May 17, allowing citizens to travel outside the kingdom after a 14-month lockdown.
Many Saudi workers had already booked flights to the UAE before the Eid Al Adha holiday, expected to begin around July 20.
“I know I can still go but I cannot afford to come back and quarantine for 14 days. I won't be able to go to work and won't get paid for those days. It's a real dilemma. I haven't travelled since the ban last year and don't know when I will be able to board a plane again,” said Hussein Mohafez, a Saudi marketing officer in Jeddah.
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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