The United Arab Emirates has suspended an agreement to inaugurate visa-free travel for Israelis in the Gulf country until July 1, citing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Israel’s foreign ministry said.
Until then, Israeli citizens who want to travel to the United Arab Emirates will have to obtain a visa, just like UAE citizens who want to travel to Israel, the ministry said on Monday. The United Arab Emirates has taken a similar step in travel from most European countries, as well as from India and Pakistan, the Israeli ministry said.
Israel is in a third stalemate and is discussing the possibility of extending it beyond January 21, as the number of new cases remains high.
The United Arab Emirates ratified the visa-free travel agreement with Israel last week and was due to enter into force 30 days later. The agreement follows a normalization agreement between the countries signed in September.
The announcement of the suspension comes a day after the Israeli cabinet voted to ask all people returning from the UAE and Brazil to quarantine government-run hotels. A similar decision previously taken on journeys returning from South Africa and Zambia was extended by 10 days.