Market News

Story by Dianne Apen-Sadler

 Travellers stuck in Qatar due to the country’s airspace closure will have their entry visas extended without fees, the Ministry of Interior has announced.

The extension, which will be valid for one month, applies to all visa entry categories and will be processed automatically. Further extensions may be announced in the future “in line with developments”.

Those whose entry visas expired prior to 28 February, when Iran’s retaliatory strikes began, will still need to pay overstay fines incurred.

Citizens of 102 countries around the globe can get a free visa on arrival in Qatar, but the length of stay depends on nationality.

For the majority of European nations, you can stay for up to 90 days. Others can get a 30-day visa which is extendable for a further 30 days.

Qatar’s airspace closure

Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority announced it would be closing the airspace just after noon local time (10 am CET) on 28 February.

Qatar Airways, the country’s flag carrier, has been posting daily updates about the continued suspension of flights daily before 9 am local time (7 am CET). The next update is due on 4 March.

While the UAE has begun exceptional flights for stranded passengers, there have been no flights in or out of Qatar since the closure began.Visit visas are also being extended for tourists in Thailand affected by cancellations on flights to the Middle East.

Some 47 flights to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, as well as 36 flights to Phuket, have been cancelled by airlines including Air Arabia, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and Kuwait Airlines so far.

Thailand’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Natthariya Thaweewong, has said that visa extensions will be offered to stranded tourists, and hotels are being told to offer discounted rates to those affected.