Saudi Gazette report

ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates repatriated 73 individuals — citizens and their companions — from Qatar through Kuwait, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement carried by state news agency WAM on Thursday.

The UAE gives the highest priority to reuniting members of Emirati families who were separated due to the suspension of some flights and partial closure of airports in some countries amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic, according to the statement.

The UAE continues to implement all necessary procedures and measures to ensure the safe return of its nationals to their families in the country, the statement said.

It added the foreign ministry completed the air repatriation of Emirati citizens and their companions from Qatar through Kuwait to the UAE, where 73 people were repatriated, of which 41 were Emiratis along with 32 of their companions. The repatriation included humanitarian cases, elderly citizens, pregnant women and several people with chronic diseases.

Khalid Abdullah Humaid Belhoul, the undersecretary of the ministry, hailed the cooperation of Kuwait and its efforts to complete the repatriation of Emirati citizens on Kuwait Airways.

The UAE along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt had broken off all ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism.