Thailand remains open to international visitors as the nation observes a period of mourning for former Queen Sirikit, the mother of King Vajiralongkorn and wife of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away last week at the age of 93.

While the atmosphere across the country is solemn, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has confirmed that all travel, hospitality, and public services continue as usual. The country “continues to welcome international visitors,” TAT said, though travellers are urged to be mindful of the subdued national mood.

Mourning Protocols

The Thai government has outlined official mourning practices:

• Officials will wear black for one year.
• The general public is encouraged to do so for 90 days.
• Flags will fly at half-mast for 30 days.
• Entertainment events will be scaled down.

Six Things Travellers from the UAE Should Know

1. A Quieter National Mood

Across Bangkok and other cities, flags are lowered, and citizens are dressed in dark colours. Visitors are not required to wear black, but modest, neutral clothing is appreciated—especially when visiting temples or official buildings. “Visitors are encouraged to be respectful of the tone of public life,” TAT advised.

2. Tourist Attractions Remain Open

Thailand’s popular destinations—from Phuket’s beaches to Chiang Mai’s temples—are unaffected. Hotels, restaurants, and transport services continue as normal. Only select royal sites, including the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, will be closed from October 26 to November 8 for ceremonial events.

3. Cultural Festivals Proceed on a Smaller Scale

Major events like Loy Krathong (November 5) and Yi Peng in Chiang Mai will still take place, albeit with reduced festivities. Fireworks and parades will be limited, but traditional rituals such as lantern-floating and river offerings will continue.

4. Nightlife and Dining with Discretion

Restaurants, cafés, and bars remain open, and alcohol sales are not restricted. However, entertainment venues have been asked to lower music volumes and avoid overt celebrations during the early mourning period. As Bangkok Post noted, “Life continues with calm respect — visitors are expected to mirror that.”

5. Travel and Transport Unaffected

Flights, trains, and ferries are operating normally. Thai Airways confirmed its services remain “unaffected and on time.” There are no new restrictions on domestic or international routes.

6. Show Respect Through Small Gestures

Visitors are encouraged to show courtesy near memorials or portraits of the Queen Mother by speaking softly or pausing briefly. Wearing a small black ribbon — widely available in shops — is a simple yet meaningful gesture.

Bottom Line

Thailand’s tourism sector remains fully operational. For UAE residents, the country continues to offer its signature warmth and hospitality — this time framed by a quieter atmosphere of reverence and national unity.

Air travel across Italy was disrupted on Friday after a technical fault affected the country’s air traffic control systems, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

Air traffic control provider ENAV said it had introduced temporary restrictions on air traffic capacity after detecting overnight anomalies in the data transmission network supporting air traffic services nationwide.

Authorities said the disruption was not caused by sabotage and confirmed that the technical issue had been resolved later in the day.

Data from aviation analytics company Cirium showed that 192 flights had been cancelled by around 1000 GMT. At the same time, only about 31% of departures from Italian airports were leaving on schedule.

The situation was particularly challenging at the country’s major airports. On-time departures stood at approximately 25% at Milan Malpensa Airport and 28% at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

ENAV announced at around 1325 GMT that it had restored full operational capacity, bringing the technical disruption to an end.

Source: Reuters

Saudi telecom operator STC Group is offering free, unlimited calls to and from Saudi Arabia for customers roaming overseas, helping travellers maintain contact with their families amid continuing flight disruptions.

Announced on X, the initiative runs from October 12 to October 19. STC said the offer was intended to support customers facing difficulties staying connected with loved ones during an uncertain period.

“We understand how difficult it can be to be away from family, particularly during times like these,” the company told Arab News.

STC added that free, unlimited calling would make it easier for customers outside the Kingdom to communicate with relatives and provide reassurance during the disruption.

The initiative comes as flights to and from Riyadh face interruptions following a recent attack on King Khalid International Airport.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on X that the airport’s operational suspension had been extended to allow safety inspections of its facilities to be completed. The authority did not provide a timeline for the resumption of flights.

Traveller Welcomes Initiative but Calls for Free Internet

Hisham Al-Ghasim, a Saudi citizen whose return journey from Bangkok to Riyadh was disrupted, welcomed STC’s offer but said free internet access would have been more practical.

His existing mobile package already covered calls, while internet connectivity was important for arranging alternative travel, making bookings and accessing essential applications.

He told Arab News that providing unrestricted internet access instead of free calls would have been more useful because many everyday communications and travel arrangements depend on online services.

Al-Ghasim had completed a business trip to Bangkok and was waiting for a taxi when he received a notification that his return flight had been delayed.

He said he was informed that his departure had been postponed by three days. Although he had been following developments, he had not expected his flight booking to be cancelled.

His original itinerary involved an Emirates flight via Dubai to Riyadh. He subsequently arranged to end his journey in the United Arab Emirates instead.

After reaching Dubai, Al-Ghasim contacted the Saudi Consulate General, which offered assistance with returning to the Kingdom by road through organised group transport.

Saudi Missions Assist Stranded Citizens

Saudi embassies and consulates have also been helping citizens affected by flight cancellations associated with regional security developments.

Their support includes arranging emergency accommodation and helping travellers identify alternative routes to return home as aviation disruptions continue.

Source: Arab News

flydubai has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 14, the airline confirmed in a statement.

A spokesperson said the carrier is monitoring the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities and will notify passengers of any changes to flight schedules through its official communication channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on the airline’s website, flydubai.com, to review available refund or rebooking options.

Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their agents directly for assistance.

The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and said it would continue to provide updates through its official channels.

Source: Emirates247

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended services to Riyadh and Dammam, issuing a travel alert for passengers travelling to the two Saudi Arabian destinations.

The Qatari airline said it was monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the relevant authorities. In response to the evolving situation, the carrier halted flights to both cities until further notice.

Passengers have been urged to verify their flight status through the airline’s official website or mobile application before travelling.

Qatar Airways said the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. The airline added that customers affected by the suspensions would be contacted directly, with additional updates published on its website as more information becomes available.

Source: QNA

Several UAE airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia, disrupting services to Riyadh and Dammam between October 10 and October 14, according to airline announcements and published flight schedules.

Flydubai confirmed that its flights between Dubai and Riyadh would remain cancelled through October 14. The airline said it was monitoring developments in coordination with the relevant authorities and would communicate further schedule changes through its official channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on flydubai’s website to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their respective agents for assistance. The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the changes.

Etihad Airways has cancelled selected flights between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh for the period from October 10 to October 12.

Emirates has also recorded cancellations on several services between Dubai and Riyadh on October 11 and 12. Disruptions extended to flights connecting Dubai with Dammam on October 11.

For October 12, Emirates' published schedules listed flights EK823 and EK821 between Dubai and Dammam as cancelled, while flight EK827 remained scheduled to operate.

The cancellations reflect schedule adjustments by multiple UAE carriers serving Saudi Arabia during the affected period.

Airlines have advised passengers to monitor official communication channels for the latest flight information and to contact their carriers or travel agents to discuss available options if their journeys have been affected.

Source: Emirates247