New UAE flight rule unbans Nigerians, Indians, four others

UAE authorities have announced that residents from six countries where passenger entry was earlier suspended can now return to the United Arab Emirates.

Specifically, fully vaccinated travellers and holders of residency permits are granted access into the Emirates from August 5. However, ICA approval is required for passengers from restricted nations.

The authorities noted, yesterday, that 14 days should have elapsed after administration of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Residents must also brandish authorised documentation.

The exemptions are applicable to travellers from Nigeria, Uganda India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, according to the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA).

Also, vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers from the following categories are allowed entry from August 5: Health workers employed in the UAE. These include doctors, nurses and technicians. Also captured are those working in the Emirates’ education sector: Universities, colleges, schools and institutes, students and humanitarian cases with valid residency and those employed in federal and local government agencies.

Entry of expo participants is equally allowed. Previously, only passengers fewer than eight exempted categories were allowed entry from restricted nations. The categories were: Citizens of the UAE and their first-degree relatives, diplomatic personnel between the UAE and the applicable countries, including administrative workers, official delegations subject to obtaining prior approval, Expo 2020 international participants and exhibitors and personnel sponsored by its organisers.

Equally given the green light are businessmen and women, provided they have approval from the General Authority for the Security of Ports, Borders and Free Zones, as well as heads of higher committees of the emergency, crisis and disaster management teams of the Emirates.

Others are employees of vital functions recognised by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship and UAE residents with gold or silver residency permits in addition to crews of transit cargo and flights.