The Government has taken the urgent decision to ban direct flights to the UK from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Burundi and Rwanda to prevent the spread of the new variant originally identified in South Africa into the UK.

All arrivals who have, in the 10 days before their arrival in the UK, been in these destinations, and their households, will have to self-isolate immediately, and will not be eligible to use Test to Release.

This ban does not affect services to and from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf area states.  

With the lifting of restrictions on travel between the UAE and Qatar travellers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai bound for the UK will be able quite legally to make their way to Doha and take Qatar Airways flights to Edinburgh, Heathrow and Manchester.

For the latest up to date information do check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice