KHALEEJ TIMES, Saturday, Dec 25, 2021 | Jumada Al-Uola 20, 1443
UAE flights: Entry suspended for travellers from 4 countries, rules tightened for 2 others
Emirates:
The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority
(NCEMA) and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) have announced the
suspension of all inbound flights for national and international carriers and
transit passengers from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Nigeria from Saturday,
December 25, effective 7.30am.
This includes suspending the entry of travellers who were in the four countries
14 days before coming to the UAE, while flight operations will continue to
transport passengers from the UAE to the same countries.
The UAE nationals, their first degree relatives, diplomatic missions, official
delegations between UAE and these countries and Golden residence holders are
excluded from this decision.
The excluded categories should present a negative Covid-19 test obtained within
48 hours of departure and a Rapid-PCR test at the airport within six hours of
departure whenever possible and another PCR test at the airport upon arrival to
UAE.
A 10-day quarantine and a PCR test on the ninth day of entering the country is
required for UAE nationals, their first-degree relatives, diplomatic missions
and golden residence holders.
GCAA also affirmed that it is required for those coming from the four countries
through other countries to stay in latter countries for at least 14 days before
being allowed to enter the UAE.
UAE citizens are barred from travelling to the four African countries except for
the country's emergency treatment cases, official delegations, and scholarships.
In addition, the two authorities have introduced new travel requirements for
those coming on direct flights from Uganda and Ghana. These include having a
negative Covid-19 test obtained within 48 hours and a Rapid-PCR test at the
airport within six hours of the departure.
Those coming from Uganda and Ghana to the UAE on transit flights also have to
have a negative Covid-19 test obtained within 48 hours and a Rapid-PCR test at
the airport of their main point of departure within six hours of travelling in
addition to another Rapid PCR test at the transit airport before being allowed
to enter the UAE.
GCAA called on all travellers affected by the decision to follow up and
communicate with the airlines to amend and schedule their flights and to ensure
their safe return to their final destinations without any delay or other
obligations.