UAE-based airlines Etihad, Emirates and Air Arabia have announced that flights to Saudi Arabia have been suspended “until further notice” following Saudi’s suspension of all international commercial flights for one week.

Saudi has suspended all flights due to the threat of a more infectious COVID-19 strain.

“Due to the closure of borders as directed by the Saudi authorities, Emirates will be suspending flights to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until further notice. We regret any inconvenience caused, affected customers should contact their travel agent or Emirates contact centre for rebooking options,” read the statement on the official website of Emirates Airlines.

RELATED STORY: New COVID-19 strain leads to high number of infections in UK

Apart from Saudi, other countries have also temporarily closed their borders for flight specifically to and from the United Kingdom – where the new COVID-19 strain had reportedly ‘gone out of control’ according to local health authorities.

These include France that has banned all travel from Britain for 48 hours, Germany that had halted all air links with UK until December 31, and Canada that has banned flights for 72 hours.

READ ON: Saudi Arabia suspends all int’l flights due to scare of ‘new COVID-19 strain’