The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MZVEZ) of the Slovak Republic does not recommend traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the tense security situation in the Middle East region. The Department of Diplomacy reported on this on its website.
“The situation may lead to further escalation and the sudden closure of airspace. As a result of the development, commercial flights in the region are being disrupted and diverted,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned. He advises passengers to follow the latest information from airlines and, if possible, consider postponing their trip. “Flight connections may be canceled or changed without prior notice,” the ministry warned.
Deportation for filming?
At the same time, the department informed that the authorities of the United Arab Emirates introduced a strict ban on photography, filming and dissemination of visual materials capturing military interventions, projectile ranges or air defense activity. “Sharing such content, including its forwarding through social networks or communication applications, as well as the dissemination of unverified or misleading information, can be considered a criminal offense threatening national security,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, adding that violations of the rules are subject to imprisonment, financial sanctions and, in the case of foreigners, deportation.
The department advises citizens of the Slovak Republic to move to a safe environment, monitor the development of the situation and official announcements by local authorities, consider the necessity of moving and avoid mass gatherings and sensitive objects. At the same time, he calls on them to refrain from photographing and filming incidents, not to share unverified information, and in case of deterioration of the situation, to stay indoors in a safe place.
The Department reminded that in the event of an emergency, citizens of the SR can contact the International Operational Crisis Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the phone numbers +421 2 5978 5978 and +421 906 07 5978. In the case of traveling abroad, it recommends using the voluntary registration service via the Ministry’s website or the Svetobežka mobile application.
