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?
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 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.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Napoleon
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Cricket World Cup League Two
Teams
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
Fixtures
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Oman
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
LIVERPOOL%20TOP%20SCORERS
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
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."
