The United Arab Emirates has given approval to passenger flights from Nigeria, Uganda, Indian, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to enter the kingdom.
It stated that only travellers who present negative PCR tests taken 72 hours before departure from their countries would be allowed into the country and transit through its airports from Thursday.
Announcing the development on Tuesday, the kingdom’s National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA) noted that following their clearance, state airports would allocate special lounges for every transit passenger to avoid the possible spread of covid-19 among travellers.
NCEMA also explained that the categories of passengers will include those with valid residency permits and who 14 days must have passed since they took the second dose.
“Medical personnel working in the country will be excluded; including 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.
“Students studying in the country, humanitarian cases who hold valid residency and workers in federal and local government agencies, and cases of completing treatment in the country, whether they are vaccinated or not, will also be excluded.
“All these categories will be required to submit a request on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to obtain the necessary approvals in addition to the certificates of vaccination certified by the relevant authorities in the country for the categories from which these certificates are required.
“In addition to applying precautionary and preventive measures to receive arrivals, including quarantine and PCR checks upon and after arrival, as well as follow-up and health monitoring of arrivals.”