Emirates Airlines will resume flights to Tunisia after an exchange of security information, resolving a row between the United Arab Emirates and the African country over a ban on female Tunisian passengers.
A statement by the UAE foreign ministry on state news agency WAM announced the decision, saying it had been taken following extensive cooperation and information received from the Tunisian side that eased the national carrier’s concerns.
Tunisia’s transport ministry said an agreement had been reached after “contacts with the Emirati side at various levels”.
The UAE angered Tunisian authorities in December when it banned Tunisian women from its passenger flights.
Tunisia in response banned Emirates Airlines from flying to Tunis, accusing the carrier of bias.
Authorities in the North African country however later said the UAE was acting on intelligence that female jihadists returning from Iraq or Syria could try to use Tunisian passports to stage attacks.
“In light of preventing dangers and threats that should be avoided to the largest degree, and in light of an extensive security dialogue and information received from the Tunisian side, the concerned authorities in the UAE have decided to return to normal procedures before the extraordinary circumstance,” the statement said.
The UAE had largely remained silent on the matter, except for a tweet by its minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, which said both countries had been in contact about “security measure information”, adding that his country valued and respected Tunisian women.
