Qataris banned from flying into UAE after being barred from entry via land

Qatari nationals have been banned from boarding flights into the United Arab Emirates after Arab countries including the UAE suspended flights to the small Gulf state amid an ongoing diplomatic crisis.

Expats living in Qatar with residency visa have also been prohibited from being able to obtain visas on arrival in the UAE, a spokesman for the UAE's Etihad Airways told Reuters on Wednesday.

"This ruling applies to all airlines flying into the UAE, including Etihad Airways," the spokesman said.

The UAE announced this week that Qataris have also been banned from entering the country through land border crossings.

The move came after Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt along with other Arab and Muslims countries cut off diplomatic ties and transport links to Qatar on Monday over its alleged support for extremist groups - an allegation Qatar vehemently denies.

The closure of airspace and sea traffic to the gas-rich state also affected Qatar Airways, one of the region's busiest carriers.

Six airlines owned by Gulf nations or their allies have cancelled flights to Qatar in the wake of the diplomatic row.

Morocco's Royal Air Maroc has cancelled flights via Doha to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Egypt.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have revoked the operating licence of Qatar Airways and ordered the airline's offices to close within 48 hours.

Vast stretches of regional airspace have been closed to Qatari aircraft, posing a predicament for travellers looking to leave Doha.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt have given Qataris 14 days to leave their countries.

Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, chairman of Qatar's national human rights committee, has said the ultimatum was a gross violation of human rights which requires intervention by the United Nations.