Abu dhabi: A Taiwanese traveler detained at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Sunday has been released from custody, but he remains barred from leaving the United Arab Emirates, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Friday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the man, identified by the surname Chen, was released after MOFA's office in Dubai received a call from his family at 1:30 a.m. on Friday. Despite his release, Chen must report to the police to have his travel restrictions lifted, a process delayed until Wednesday due to a national holiday in the UAE from Saturday to Tuesday.
MOFA has not disclosed the reasons behind Chen's continued travel restrictions. Meanwhile, their office in Dubai, responsible for all UAE-related affairs, has made contact with Chen and arranged for him to stay in the office's dormitory, as stated by office chief Chen Chun-chi.
Before Chen's release, MOFA maintained communication with Abu Dhabi police and Chen's family but had not received any clarification on the reasons for his detention. The incident first came to MOFA's attention when the man's wife, surnamed Yang, reported on Monday that Chen had been taken away by five armed officers as they prepared to board a connecting flight to Turkey.
Yang, unable to inquire about her husband's detention, proceeded to board the flight to Istanbul with their tour group, according to MOFA. Following Yang's call, MOFA's Dubai office contacted Abu Dhabi police to gather information about the case.
On Wednesday, Abu Dhabi police provided a briefing on the incident to MOFA's office but did not clarify whether Chen had been formally arrested or the reasons for his detention. According to local media, the couple from Yunlin County was at the beginning of a 16-day tour to Turkey when the incident took place.