KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are strongly advised to defer all non-essential travel to Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the official travel advisory issued by the Foreign Ministry is still in effect.
The ministry, widely known as Wisma Putra, said it is monitoring the fluid security and travel situation across the Middle East in close coordination with Malaysian diplomatic missions in the region.
In a media advisory yesterday, Wisma Putra said it noted the announcement by UAE authorities on the opening of designated safe air corridors and Malaysia Aviation Group’s (MAG) temporary resumption of return services to and from Jeddah and Madinah from yesterday to March 8.
“Following the announcement, our missions are liaising with relevant authorities and operational stakeholders to clarify implementation details and facilitate orderly onwards travel as conditions permit,” it said.
In the UAE, the embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate general in Dubai are engaging with those awaiting onwards travel arrangements, while in Saudi Arabia, the Consulate General of Malaysia in Jeddah is monitoring the situation involving affected Malaysian umrah pilgrims.
Officers conduct welfare and needs-based assessments there, giving priority to those facing extended transit delays and time-bound accommodation arrangements.
