Iranians have been barred from entering the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with only a few exceptions, Dubai-based airlines said, while travel agencies reported high visa rejections for Iranians since the US-Israel war on Iran began, AFP reports.

Emirates and flydubai said on their websites that Iranian nationals were banned from entering the UAE, with the exception of some residents related to Emiratis, families and certain professions.

“Nationals of Iran are not allowed to enter and transit,” Emirates and flydubai said on their websites.

Exemptions apply for UAE residents who are spouses of Emiratis, children of an Emirati woman or “athletes, bank executives, doctors, families, engineers, investors, senior professionals or traders”. Flydubai said golden visa holders would also be allowed in.

AFP spoke to several travel agencies based in the UAE that reported a high rejection rate for Iranians visa applicants in the weeks since the start of the war. One travel agency said they had received official instructions not to take on any visa applications for Iranian nationals.