As tempting as a Thai holiday might be, it's not time to book your flight quite yet. Courtesy Aman Resorts
As tempting as a Thai holiday might be, it's not time to book your flight quite yet. Courtesy Aman Resorts
As tempting as a Thai holiday might be, it's not time to book your flight quite yet. Courtesy Aman Resorts
As tempting as a Thai holiday might be, it's not time to book your flight quite yet. Courtesy Aman Resorts

Emirates resumes flights to Thailand, but many travellers can't currently go


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Emirates has resumed flights to Bangkok today, September 1.

The Dubai airline is now operating daily passenger flights to the Thai capital from the UAE.

However, only a very limited number of people can actually travel on Emirates's newly announced flights as the resumption of service comes after Thai authorities extended a ban on international flights to the country until September 30.  Plus, Thai consulate in Dubai has said that Thai citizens cannot take these flights.

Fares from Dubai to Bangkok start from just Dh2,745 return, but before you go planning your next holiday you'll have to check if you fit into the restricted list of passengers who are currently allowed to enter Thailand.

Who can travel to Thailand?

Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand. Courtest Wikimedia Commons
Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand. Courtest Wikimedia Commons

All nationalities, other than Thai, currently need a visa to enter the country, but tourist and transit visas are still not accepted. This means that thoughts of a last-minute summer trip to Thailand are currently out of the question.

Other than citizens, the country is open to foreigners that are a spouse, parent or child of a Thai national, or who hold permanent residency in the country.

For business travel, those who aren't Thai can enter the country if they have a work permit, are on diplomatic or consular missions or are a representative of a government organisation.

Students can fly back into Thailand as can those travelling for medical reasons, along with up to three guardians. This does not apply to anyone seeking Covid-19 medical treatment. Airline flight crews are also allowed into Thailand.

Travellers who do meet these restrictions must first obtain permission from the Thai embassy in the UAE before travelling, as well as getting several other documents.

These include a certificate of entry, fit to fly documentation, a negative Covid-19 PCR test result and health insurance covering treatment for the virus of no less than $100,000 (Dh367,250).

Travellers also have to quarantine for 14 days and must book state-approved accommodation before they can book flights with any airline.

Thai citizens cannot currently fly on Emirates commercial flights 

Thai nationals cannot fly Emirates to Thailand from the UAE says the Royal Thai Consulate General Dubai. Courtesy Emirates
Thai nationals cannot fly Emirates to Thailand from the UAE says the Royal Thai Consulate General Dubai. Courtesy Emirates

Thai citizens hoping to return to the country from the UAE can do so, but at the moment they cannot fly on Emirates flights. The Thai consulate in Dubai clarified this on its Facebook page.

"Emirates airline has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to operate commercial flights to Bangkok currently from the period of September 1 – October 24. However, the above-mentioned commercial flights are operating only for 'non-Thai citizens'," it said.

It also states that Thai citizens who are UAE residents must only travel to Thailand on approved flights organised by the Thai embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Thai consulate in Dubai. The next repatriation flight will depart Abu Dhabi on September 9, operated by Etihad.

Etihad is operating to Bangkok, but the national airline of the UAE confirmed to The National that these flights are not currently on general sale.

Thailand's tourism minister was pushing for an October 1 reopening date for tourism, but authorities have said no further steps have been taken towards this. When travel does open, tourists are expected to have to quarantine and entry will be limited to those travelling from select countries.

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm

Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Price: from Dh498,542

On sale: now

Six large-scale objects on show
  • Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
  • The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
  • A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
  • A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
  • Torrijos Palace dome
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The biog

Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.

Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.

Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.

Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.

Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence. 

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets