UAE suspends entry of passengers from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria

ABU DHABI-The UAE suspend the entry of passengers from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria in line with efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19.

The ban come into effect from 7.30am on today Christmas Day.

The directive was issued by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority in conjunction with the General Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday.

The decision covers all inbound flights for national and international carriers and transit passengers and includes travellers who were in any the four countries in the 14 days prior to their planned arrival in the Emirates.

Flights from the UAE to the four countries will continue.

UAE citizens, their first degree relatives, diplomatic missions, official delegations between UAE and the countries and Golden residence holders are exempt from the 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 on arrival to UAE.

A 10-day quarantine and a PCR test on the ninth day of entering the country is required for UAE citizens, their first-degree relatives, diplomatic missions and golden residence holders.

UAE citizens are barred from travelling to the four African countries except for the country's emergency treatment cases, official delegations, and scholarships.

The two authorities also introduced new travel requirements for travellers on direct flights from Uganda and Ghana.

These include presenting 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," red a statement from the authorities on Wam.

Lab staff working in the sample preparation room at Dubai Airport (DXB). (All photos by Pawan Singh/The National).

"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," the statement said.

Last week, the UAE barred entry to travellers from the Republic of Congo. (TheNational)