The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has urged Emirati citizens in Oman to return to the UAE in the wake of the Sultanate's announcement that it would be closing its land, sea and air borders for one week starting from Tuesday (December 22) morning.

In a tweet on Monday, the UAE Embassy in Oman's capital Muscat stated that the Sultanate has decided to prevent entry and exit to Oman through the land, air and sea ports from Tuesday for a period of a week. It added that the UAE authorities have invited Emirati citizens to return before the commercial flights are suspended and borders are closed.

"Given the Sultanate of Oman's decision to prevent entry and exit to the Sultanate through the land, air and sea ports, starting tomorrow morning, Tuesday, December 22, 2020, for a period of a week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation invites citizens wishing to return before closing the ports," the tweet read.

The travel update has come in view of an unprecedented threat from a new strain of COVID-19.