Dubai: The UAE’s Minister of Economy and chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) expressed surprise by the implementation of a ban to carry certain electronic devices on direct flights between the UAE and the US.
In a statement from GCAA, Sultan Al Mansouri pointed that the UAE’s airports implement the highest standards of security.
The ban on carrying devices larger than a smartphone in cabins was announced earlier this week by the Donald Trump-led US administration, which cited security protection as the reason behind the ban. The prohibition is for direct flights to the US departing from airports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Cairo, Kuwait City, Istanbul, Amman, Casablanca, Jeddah, and Riyadh.
“The UAE is the number one ranked country worldwide by the International Civil Aviation Organisation regarding the UAE’s compliance with international security and safety standards, and we noted some differences between the US and UK prohibition of electronic devices,” Al Mansouri said.
Almost a day after the US announced the ban, the UK followed suit in introducing a similar one but did not include any airports in the UAE or Qatar, leaving many experts questioning the motive behind the US ban. Some have suggested that it was a protectionist measure by the US to curb the growth of the three major Gulf airlines (Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways).
Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the GCAA, said, “The United States Custom and Border Protection selected the UAE as one of the first countries in the world to implement pre-clearance at Abu Dhabi International Airport in clear demonstration of their trust in the ability of the UAE civil aviation system to process passengers securely, safely, and in accordance with the highest international standards and practices.”
In its statement, GCAA said it is eager to maintain cooperation with US authorities to ensure security and safety in the aviation sector, and to combat threats to civil aviation.
