Here's what travellers to Hong Kong need to know when visiting the city.
What’s going on at Hong Kong airport?
On Tuesday, Hong Kong International Airport (HGK) was shut down for a second consecutive day as protesters filled the terminal. This caused hundreds of flight cancellations and left thousands of passengers stranded. In the most recent closure, police in riot gear entered the airport in an attempt to regain control of HKG. Protesters erected barricades against these forces and clashes ensued, some of which were violent.
By the early hours of Wednesday morning, the situation had calmed. However, the spillover effects of the airport closure has affected travel plans for many visitors.
Is the airport open?
Hong Kong International Airport slowly started to reopen on Wednesday after two days of shutdowns. A handful of protesters remained in place but check-in desks and immigration services were operating and flights were departing as scheduled.
That being said, the airport reopened for a period on Tuesday but was shut down again in the afternoon as protesters returned to the terminal. Travellers flying out of Hong Kong should pay attention to the latest airport information before going to the airport.
Could the airport close again?
Hong Kong's airport authorities published an injunction on Wednesday morning preventing people from demonstrating or obstructing operations at the airport.
It’s not immediately clear what effect this will have in practice as many airport staff had previously tried and failed to implement security measures.
New security rules have also been put in place to verify that everyone entering the airport area must now have a passport and itinerary — which could signal the end of these protests.
Are flights still being cancelled?
Emirates, Etihad and many other major airlines had to cancel flights after the authorities closed all check-ins at Hong Kong International Airport.
Etihad Airways flight EY833 left Hong Kong on August 13 as scheduled, but many passengers were not able to board due to the abrupt shutdown of departure immigration processing. Those passengers are booked on to the same flight number for departure today – August 14.
Etihad advises passengers to arrive early for the flight. "To assist those travelling, our check-in counters in Hong Kong will open five hours prior to departure," an Etihad representative told The National.
Other airlines also cancelled flights today. These affect services to Indonesia, the Philippines, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Thailand and various destinations in and around China and Hong Kong.
Can I cancel my flight?
Some airlines have announced that passengers can cancel or change their flights without incurring fees.
Etihad Airways is offering passengers a fee waiver until Monday, August 19. In a statement to The National a representative said: "Any guests affected by this disruption on flights to or from Hong Kong will be able to rebook on subsequent flights, subject to availability, without standard rebooking fees. This waiver will apply until August 19."
Hong Kong’s flag carrier, Cathay Pacific, is also allowing passengers to change selected flights without a fee. United Airlines are waiving change fees and any fare difference on flights departing for Hong Kong before Tuesday, August 20. American Airlines are also offering fee waivers on selected Hong Kong flights.
Other airlines, including Emirates, are rebooking passengers on alternative flights, but have no updated information on active waivers.
Why did this happen?
Protests began when the Hong Kong government proposed plans that would allow citizens of the island to be deported to mainland China. After initial protests, the original bill was scrapped, but protests expanded to call for an investigation into allegations of police brutality and calls for political reform. Airport protesters began arriving at Hong Kong International on Monday morning in a bid to draw more international attention to their plight.
The protesters have widespread support from many people in Hong Kong. British resident Chris Walling said there is "absolute widespread support for the cause" but added there was a "delicate connection between the radical minority and peaceful majority as clashes become more violent".
Is it safe to visit?
Opinion varies. For Walling, the city is still safe but travellers must be aware of what’s going on. “Keep your wits about you, be aware of where demonstrations are taking place and avoid those areas," he said. "With protesters and police exchanging missiles and tear gas, there are violent clashes which should be avoided at all costs. You do not want to become tangled in these crowds."
“It’s also advised not to wear black or white clothing near any protests as these colours represent two sides in the protests,” he said.
Walling said travellers should know that the situation is evolving daily. “Protester actions have certainly moved on from the earlier broadly peaceful marches limited to the weekends to actively trying to disrupt services during the week such as the MTR trains, or holding mass strike actions.
"However, most of this has been notified to the public in advance so it’s easy to manage its impact on your day. That said the airport sit-in caught people by surprise, probably a sign that there's worse to come.”
However, a user at r/HongKong on Reddit explicitly asked people not to visit now in a post entitled "People around the world, please stop coming to HK".
The post from u/joker_wcy said: “If you plan to visit or have a layover in Hong Kong, I advise you to cancel your trip.”
It went on to cite safety, traffic disruptions and the impact that protesters are hoping to gain by disrupting the country's tourism as the reasons. It ended with: “I would like to apologise for the inconvenience we caused.”
Travel warnings
Several countries have issued travel advisories or heightened travel warnings for Hong Kong. The UAE consulate in Hong Kong updated its travel advice on twitter as HKG closed for the first time.
Other travel warnings have been issued by Japan, Australia, Ireland, South Korea, the UK and Taiwan.
Should I go to Hong Kong?
Many people seem to think no as figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board show a double-digit decline in tourists since the protests began.
For Walling, safety isn’t the main reason to avoid Hong Kong at the moment. “Beyond the protests Hong Kong is regarded as one of the safest cities in the world and I don't suspect this will change,” he says. “If you are vigilant and avoid the hotspots it should be fine. Hong Kong is a large and wonderful city so it wouldn’t be too difficult. The summer weather is a greater reason to postpone a trip! Bring an umbrella and deodorant, it's hot, humid, and we've just had the first typhoon of the season.”
Reddit user u/joker_wcy asked tourists to delay, rather than cancel, travel: “If you wish to visit Hong Kong, please visit when we reach our goals. You will be very welcomed.”
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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What are the regulations?
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- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
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Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Britain's travel restrictions
- A negative test 2 days before flying
- Complete passenger locator form
- Book a post-arrival PCR test
- Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
- 11 countries on red list quarantine
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
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Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
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Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The Word for Woman is Wilderness
Abi Andrews, Serpent’s Tail
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
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Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
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- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
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Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
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Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
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