Foreign Office issues Qatar social media warning

Visitors to UAE face jail for expressing sympathy with with Gulf state Continue reading →

British travellers to the UAE have been warned not to sympathise with Qatar on social media or face jail.

The caution was issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office after many Gulf nations broke off diplomatic ties with Qatar.

Several countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt cut diplomatic and flight links with Qatar on Monday.

Qatar has rejected claims from the region that it is a leader of Islamist extremism.

The FCO said that the UAE authorities announced that “showing sympathy for Qatar on social media or by any other means of communication is an offence.

“Offenders could be imprisoned and subject to a substantial fine.”

The FCO added: “If you’re a British national holding Qatari residency, and you wish to transit through or enter into the UAE, normal entry requirements to the UAE should apply.”