On December 22, 2017, United Arab Emirates banned Tunisian women under 30 from flying on Dubai-bound flights, which took effect on December 25, sparking the outrage of many Tunisian social media users.  On Sunday, Anwar Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs stated on twitter that the UAE “appreciates and respects Tunisian Women” and only cites security breaching as the reason behind the move.

The banning has set social media ablaze with hashtags: #NoWomenNoFly and  #TunisiaDispilinestheUAE

Users have called out the sexism behind the UAE travel ban in many tweets. Many popular tweets applauding the Tunisian ministry include:

Tunisian twitter user, Shaima Dallali states “Never underestimate a nation that started a revolution…that spread across the Middle East.