The General Authority of Civil Aviation issued a statement in which it stated that granting it landing permits and allowing some companies to operate trips to the state were intended only for the purposes of returning Iranian citizens stranded in the state as is the case with any evacuation flights to other countries, bearing in mind that these evacuation flights arrive in the state without any travelers on board.
The statement was issued after allegations were made regarding the Iranian carrier Mahan Air being given open permission to operate its flights to and from the country during February and March of this year, allowing the epidemic to spread - as the reports claimed -.
The United Arab Emirates affirms that the ban was and remains in place and that all flights carrying passengers operate for evacuation purposes only.