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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Tunisia–Emirates dispute over Tunisian women’s travel was a short-lived diplomatic and aviation row in December 2017—not evidence of a current ban. Reports said Emirates prevented some Tunisian women from boarding Dubai-bound flights; Tunisia responded by suspending the airline’s flights to and from the country. The two sides later agreed to resume flights after security discussions and an exchange of information.
What happened in December 2017?
On December 22, 2017, Tunisia’s Foreign Ministry summoned UAE ambassador Salem Issa Elkattam Zeabi for clarification about a measure affecting Tunisian women traveling to or transiting through the UAE. In its contemporaneous report, Tunisia’s state news agency TAP said the ambassador characterized the measure as “temporary and relating to security arrangements” and said it had been lifted so passengers could depart. TAP’s report records the account, but is not an original transcript of the ambassador’s remarks.
Two days later, Tunisia announced it was suspending Emirates flights to and from the country. Al Jazeera reported that the transport ministry said the suspension would remain in place “until the company can find a suitable solution to operate its flights in accordance with international laws and treaties.” Al Jazeera’s December 24 report attributes that statement to the ministry.
Why were Tunisian women reportedly stopped from flying?
UAE officials publicly cited security arrangements. Contemporary coverage also attributed to Tunisian officials concerns about women returning from conflict zones. Those explanations are reported statements, not independently verified evidence that any affected passenger posed a threat. The cited accounts do not establish the underlying intelligence, the full scope of the measure, or precisely how long it applied.
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Al Jazeera quoted one passenger as saying: “They told me that a Tunisian woman under the age of 30, with a Tunisian passport, can’t get on the Emirates flight”. That is an individual traveler’s reported experience, not proof of a general rule covering all Tunisian women, routes, or dates.
How did the dispute end?
In January 2018, the governments agreed to resume flights following security dialogue and an exchange of information. The National reported that Tunisia’s transport ministry described an agreement to return to normal procedures and referred to a bilateral aviation accord signed in 2000. The National’s report on the agreement describes the resolution; the available reporting does not provide a full legal analysis of the accord or the measures at issue.
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Does this mean Tunisian women are currently banned from Emirates flights?
No current ban is established by these historical reports. Nor do the sources cited here confirm whether Emirates currently operates a Tunis route. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Tunisia destination page, modified July 9, 2026, provides travel guidance for Emirati travelers; it is not an Emirates timetable and does not establish restrictions on Tunisian women. Anyone planning travel should check current airline schedules and relevant government guidance directly.
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