Covid19 : UAE extends ban on citizens from travelling to 14 countries including India, Sri Lanka and others
Citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cannot travel to several countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka till July 21, several media reports have said citing authorities. The reports cited the Emirates’ foreign ministry and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority as saying that citizens need to comply with all precautionary and preventive measures related to Covid-19 with the start of the travel season.
Thursday’s order comes after the UAE in June extended the travel ban on passengers from 14 countries until July 21 in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The UAE also said its citizens must self-isolate in case they test positive for Covid-19 while travelling and follow all instructions, requirements and health protocols applied by their host countries. They will also have to notify the UAE’s embassies in their host countries if they get Covid-19.
Dubai had said on June 19 that an entry ban on those who in the past 14 days had visited India, Nigeria and South Africa would ease from June 23. Under the changes, the entry would be permitted to UAE residents in India who were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, anyone in South Africa who was fully vaccinated and those in Nigeria who had tested negative for coronavirus in the past 48 hours.
A GCAA representative on Sunday said those travelling from India were still banned from entering the UAE but deferred further comment to the Dubai government. Dubai’s media office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
The notice issued by UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority in June stated that flights from 14 countries – Liberia, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Uganda, Zambia, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and South Africa will remain suspended until 23:59 pm of July 21, 2021.
