Spain is getting set to welcome more holidaymakers from the UAE and Bahrain.
The European country has eased travel restrictions for tourists coming from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as those flying from Bahrain, effective Monday.
Unvaccinated travellers are now welcome to travel to Spain from the UAE and the kingdom of Bahrain after both destinations were added to Spain's safe travel list.
Vaccinated tourists from any destination have been welcome to visit the country since it reopened in June.
“This is great news especially for the GCC region as we have seen a significant increase in numbers to Spain in the past months and the trend continues,” said Daniel Rosado, director for Spain Tourism in the GCC.
“It shows that Spain is up to speed and the Covid-19 situation is well contained. This update of reduced restrictions will definitely increase tourism numbers to Spain. We are happy to welcome GCC travellers to our beautiful country with open arms as always.”
Tourists planning on visiting Spain from the UAE or Bahrain can now do so without having to present any PCR test results, Covid-19 certificates or vaccination proof.
The news follows lower numbers of coronavirus cases and the progress of vaccination roll-outs, both in Spain and across the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait were already included on Spain's safe travel list.
Travellers must fill in the Spanish Health Control form, available here, to obtain a QR code. Airlines may ask to see the code before allowing travellers to board flights, and it could also be requested on arrival at Spanish airports. This also applies to transit passengers flying though Spain.
On June 7, Spain opened up to fully inoculated visitors from any destination. Since then, the Mediterranean hotspot has welcomed back tourists from several countries, including the UAE.
Spain has a mild climate, with many parts of the country enjoying pleasant year-round weather and attractive autumnal colours. In winter, tourists seeking sunshine can head to Spain's south, where places such as Malaga or Marbella offer bright sunshine and warm temperatures.
In the north of the country, travellers can find several ski resorts, mostly in the Pyrenees mountain range. Winter festivities in Spain’s big cities are also magical, with Christmas markets, fir trees, nativity figurines and more on offer in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, helping to warm up winter nights.
“Being a year round destination, Spain has the added advantage to attract travellers for autumn and winter and now the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has listed Spain as one of the safest countries to travel, which is even more assuring to travellers,” said Rosado.
Travel rules can change frequently during the global pandemic and all tourists should check the most updated entry requirements for Spain here before they fly.
Only travellers from countries in the European Union or those listed as safe by Spanish authorities can travel to Spain without PCR tests or vaccination proof at this time. The list is constantly updated and can be found here.
Mobile phone packages comparison
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Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
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All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
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2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
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Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
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Friday December 28
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Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
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Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
CHELSEA SQUAD
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
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EA Sports FC 26
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Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
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Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
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Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
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CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
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Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
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Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
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Name: JustClean
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Sector: online laundry service
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CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
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Bullet%20Train
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- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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