Qatar's immigration authorities issue new restrictions

Qatar's immigration authorities have issued new instructions barring any nationals from ten countries, mostly Arab states, from entering the country whether on a visit, employment or business-basis. Even stopovers during air-flights are banned for those nationals.

The new instructions went into effect yesterday, according to airline sources and to a local newspaper, and will be in force until further notice. The ten nations concerned are Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Algeria, Libya and Lebanon.

Even if nationals of the above-mentioned countries hold a valid visa to Qatar that they obtained before the new instructions, they will not be allowed to enter the country. Only nationals residing in Qatar with legal residency permits will be allowed to stay. No official comment has been reported yet about the subject.