The civil aviation authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt have granted nine emergency routes for use by the Qatari planes, in co-ordination with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the neighbouring countries, a Wam news agency report said.

The report quoted a source at the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as saying: "Such a step confirms our commitment to the safety of regional and international air navigation, given that it is a standard practice in similar circumstances."

"The nine granted routes include one over the Mediterranean. It is managed by Egypt and will begin operations on August 1. A Notice to Airmen (Notam), has already been issued for this route and for the other agreed routes over the Arabian Gulf," the source said.

The agreed emergency routes will be used to facilitate air navigation operations and ensure their safety, under the umbrella of the ICAO, which co-ordinates and oversees such agreements.