A UAE citizen has come under investigation after travelling to Lebanon with his family in violation of an official travel ban. According to authorities, the individual circumvented the ban by travelling through another country before entering Lebanon.
Dr. Hamad Al Shamsi, the UAE Attorney General, ordered the investigation and emphasized that the accused put his and his family's lives at risk by ignoring the travel restrictions. He reiterated the importance of adhering to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MoFA) travel advisories, which are issued to protect citizens from dangerous situations.
Violating a travel ban is considered a serious offense under UAE law, with potential penalties including imprisonment, fines, or both, as per the country's Crimes and Penalties Law.
The travel ban to Lebanon, which remains in place "until further notice," was enacted due to heightened security risks linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also restricted travel to several other countries, including Afghanistan and Ukraine, due to security concerns in those regions.
The incident serves as a reminder to all UAE citizens to stay informed about current travel bans and advisories issued by the MoFA to ensure their safety and avoid legal consequences.