BAN OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES ON FLIGHTS TO THE USA AND UK FROM THE MIDDLE EAST
Electronic devices larger than a smart phone are no longer allowed to be carried onboard the aircraft in carry-on luggage. Electronic devices that exceed this size limit must be secured in checked luggage. Necessary medical devices will be allowed to remain in a passenger’s possession after they are screened.
The cabin luggage ban covers all electronic items with built-in batteries and plugs, that are larger than 16cm long, 9.3cm wide or 1.5cm deep. This includes laptops, tablets, phones, e-readers and portable DVD players.
The iPhone 7 Plus is not affected, for example, because it measures 15.8cm x 7.8cm x 0.73 cm. However, the Kindle Paperwhite measures 16.9cm x 11.7cm x 0.91cm meaning it is covered by the ban.
Affected Airports
The ban applies to non-stop flights to the U.S. and UK flights from 10 airports, in 8 countries. They are:
- Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), in Amman, Jordan
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), in Cairo, Egypt
- Ataturk International Airport (IST), in Istabul, Turkey
- King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (JED), in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait International Airport (KWI), Farwaniya, Kuwait
- Mohammed V Airport (CMN), Casablanca, Morocco
- Hamad International Airport (DOH), Doha, Qatar
- Dubai International Airport (DXB), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Emirates is allowing customers to have their devices with them up until they board their flight, they can then have the devices packed away into secure boxes, sealed and ticketed and returned to them once they clear customs in the USA. Business and first class passengers are loaned iPads and laptops by the airline once on board.
NEW SEATBELT LAW DUBAI
In other transport related news, Wearing a seatbelt while travelling in a car will be compulsory under new laws in Dubai. Drivers will be fined Dh400 and receive four black points on their licence for failing to ensure that all adults and children in their car are buckled up. Dubai Police welcomed the move, having urged decision-makers to amend the laws, bringing them into line with many other developed nations.
