Flight Restrictions For 14 Countries: UAE

The General Authority of Civil Aviation in the UAE has barred the entry of passengers from 14 countries that have been severely hit by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following these new travel suspension rules, Etihad Airways and Emirates have both stopped flights to and from the UAE and the affected nations. The flight restrictions apply to:

India

Passengers from India have been denied entry to the UAE from April 24 to July 6. Even those who have connected through India for the past 14 days would not be allowed entry through any other place. UAE nationals, those having UAE Golden or Silver visas, and those on diplomatic missions were the category of people allowed to travel to the UAE. 

But recently, Emirates Airlines announced that from June 23, 2021, they would accept Dubai-bound travelers coming from India. This would only be for UAE citizens and others who have completed both their vaccine doses and have a negative Covid-19 test taken within the 48 hours before leaving.

Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka

On May 12, flying from these countries was restricted until further notice. This includes those who have transited through these countries in the past 14 days attempting to enter the UAE through a different location. UAE citizens, those with golden visas, and those on diplomatic missions are the only ones allowed to travel if they follow Covid safety regulations.

Nigeria 

Passenger flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) have been paused as of June 21, Monday, until further notice. The Emirates declared these flight restrictions in a statement. It was only on June 19 that the UAE officials had started to alleviate the constraints on planes coming in from Nigeria.

South Africa 

Direct passengers and those who have been to or are transiting through South Africa in the last two weeks had been denied entry through Etihad flights from May 5 till June 30. Now, this restriction has been extended till July 6. 

This occurred after Dubai authorities had lessened the constraints on flights from South Africa on June 19. Everyday passenger flights to Johannesburg will continue to work as EK763, but outbound travel facilities on EK764 are still banned.

Vietnam

Etihad and Emirates have both imposed flight restrictions to the UAE from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. It was imposed on June 5^th until further notice. Exempt passengers include UAE nationals and their close relatives, those on diplomatic missions, those with golden or silver visas, those with special permission from UAE authorities, and those who have fulfilled their 28 days after completing their vaccine doses as approved by the World Health Organization.

Zambia, DR Congo, and Uganda 

Flights from these three countries to the UAE have been suspended from June 11. Those who will be permitted entry include UAE nationals and relatives, those on diplomatic missions, official delegations and businesspeople with permission, those having golden and silver visas, those with essential jobs according to Federal Authority Identity and Citizenship (ICA), and members of the crew of foreign freight and transit flights. If the passengers are traveling connecting through a different point, they need to prove that they resided there for a minimum of 14 days, to be exempt from the flight restrictions.

Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Namibia

UAE Authorities declared that all flights of national and foreign carriers as well transit travelers from these three countries will be suspended. It was declared on June 19, Monday and will be put into practice from June 21. The exempted groups will get to enter the UAE from these countries if they follow all Covid-19 guidelines.