Arrivals into the UK from Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Umm Al-Quwain will now have to self-isolate for 10 days.

The "emergency" removal was announced by transport secretary Grant Shapps late on Monday (11 January) and came into effect from 4am on Tuesday (12 January).

It comes after Scotland removed the UAE from its travel corridor list at the weekend, with England, Wales and Northern Ireland all now following suite.

With international travel now effectively off the agenda owing to new Covid restrictions across the UK, Dubai had been proving a lifeline for travel companies in December, with many Brits making a dash for some winter sun and Christmas breaks.

In a tweet, Shapps said: "The latest data indicates we need to immediately remove the UAE from the travel corridor list. From 4am Tuesday 12 January, anyone arriving from the UAE will need to self-isolate."

He added: "Reminder: current national restrictions do not permit international travel other than for specific reasons. Ignoring the rules costs lives.

"Inconsiderate and selfish behaviour puts others at risk and is unfair to those following the rules to beat the virus. Stay at home. Save lives."

The Department for Transport later stated the decision following a "significant acceleration in the number of imported cases" of coronavirus from the UAE, "along with the number of reported new cases over the past six days, which have risen in the UAE by 52%".

The Foreign Office has also updated its advice to advise against all but essential travel to the UAE.