From Thursday, August 5th, passengers on transit flights from Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Uganda can now enter the United Arab Emirates.
UAE, a significant travel hub with frequent visitors from countries like India and Pakistan, is one of their important markets for their airlines; Emirates, Etihad Airways, and other UAE carriers like flydubai and Air Arabia.
Unfortunately, direct flights from Nigeria and these other named countries until further notice are banned.
The effect was divulged in a statement by the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority, as seen in a series of tweets addressing the general public on Tuesday.
NECMA said passengers could transit through its airports from Thursday if they present negative PCR tests taken 72 hours before departure.
The statement tweeted on Twitter reads;
“Travel for transit passengers from all Countries from which transit passengers have been suspended will be resumed. In advance, It should be recorded that the passenger’s last destination is accepted with a laboratory check-up within 72 hours of departure. State’s airports will allocate special lounges for transit passengers.
The tweet excluded new categories of passengers from some of the banned countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria, and Uganda, on August 5th.
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It was said that these categories include those with valid residency permits who have received total vaccination doses in the UAE. Then also, those whose 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose.
Also, people who have vaccination certificates are approved by the official authorities in the country.
“Medical personnel working in the country will be excluded. This includes doctors, nurses, technicians from restaurants and non-restaurants, and those working in the educational sector in the country who teach in universities, colleges, schools, and institutes, from the vaccinated and non-vaccinated categories.
“In addition, students studying in the country, Humanitarians who hold valid residency and workers in Federal and local government agencies, and cases of completing treatment in the country, whether vaccinated or not, will also be excluded.
“Note categories will be required to submit a request on the Federal Authorities for Identity and Citizenship website. It is an essential requirement to obtain the necessary approvals and the certificates of vaccination certified by the relevant authorities in the country for the categories from which these certificates are required. The groups given exemption will be obligated to submit a preliminary PCR test within (48) hours from the date of departure.
The tests are from accredited laboratories carrying a QR Code, and conduct a quick laboratory test before boarding the plane.
Be sure to apply for the precautionary and preventive measures to receive arrivals, including quarantine and PCR checks upon and after arrival, as well as the follow-up,” the statement reads.
For now, only flight on transits would be allowed into the country. With the new disbursement of The Moderna Vaccine by the United States, the COVID-19 Pandemic will hopefully become a thing of the past.
