Dubai couple move step closer to reuniting with their child after six weeks apart

A Dubai-based couple are a step closer to being reunited with their two-year-old daughter after being separated for more than a month.

British expat, Mark Hill, and his Italian wife, Chiara Maion, got stuck in South Africa after global air travel was disrupted due to the coronavirus.

The pair had travelled to Cape Town on holiday on 12 March, leaving their daughter, Skye, in the care of a nanny, house help and close family and friends, due to health reasons.

They were originally booked to return on 21 March, but attempted to get back before then as fears grew about how COVID-19 could affect travel. 

Mark and Chiara managed to book flights for 19 March but couldn’t make it back as that was the day the UAE suspended entry of all residence visa holders who were out of the country, as part of effort to curb the spread of the virus.

After they got in touch with the UAE embassy in South Africa and other official channels, arrangements were made by the UAE government to fly the them back to Dubai.

They’re now in a hotel undergoing a mandatory 14-day quarantine, after which they can be reunited with their daughter.