United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities has announced a revision in procedures for travellers coming from Republic of India, South Africa and Nigeria on June 19.
The new development is contained in a statement issued by UAE Embassy in Abuja to News Agency of Nigeria.
According to the statement, the new rules issued by Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai are effective from June 23, the Dubai Media Office said.
Also, that the updates are part of the committee’s keenness to protect passengers and ease hassles for them without compromising on COVID-19 preventive measures, said the chairman of the Supreme Committee, Sheikh Mansoor Al-Maktoum.
Read Also: FG Suspends Emirate Outbound Flights From Nigeria
An official statement from the airline partly reads;
The Media Office announcement said the updated travel protocols are part of a normal process of revising and optimising preventive measures based on the latest local, regional and international developments.
Following the announcement, UAE carrier Emirates Airlines confirmed it would start carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India in accordance with the new protocols from June 23.
We look forward to facilitating travel from these countries and supporting various travellers’ categories.
It added that;
Residence visa holders from India and travellers from South Africa should’ve taken two doses of a vaccine approved by UAE authorities and carry RT-PCR tests reports from labs approved by the federal governments of these countries.
But for Nigerians vaccination is not made mandatory but all other conditions apply.
In addition to the above, Indians have to take a rapid PCR test four hours prior to their travel.
While there are four vaccines in the UAE for use on eligible individuals against the COVID-19 infection – Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V and Oxford-AstraZeneca, it is unclear if the UAE has approved vaccines administered on Indian, South African and Nigerian citizens in their countries.
NAN reports that all travellers are also required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours before departure; however UAE citizens are exempted.
Only QR coded PCR test result certificates are accepted. All passengers must take a rapid PCR test four hours prior to flight departure. All passengers must undergo a PCR test on arrival at Dubai Airport.
Passengers should undergo institutional quarantine until they receive their PCR test result, which is expected within 24 hours.
Passengers should produce a negative PCR test certificate with a QR Code from labs approved by the Nigerian government.
All passengers must undergo a PCR test on arrival to Dubai Airport. Transit passengers should comply with entry protocols of final destinations.
Entry will now be permitted to residents who have received two doses of UAE-approved vaccines, the state said.
Background
It can be recalled that in February 2021, Federal Government has placed a 72-hour suspension on outbound Emirates flights from Nigeria for violating COVID-19 protocols.
Federal Government through Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) banned Emirates Airlines’ operations in Nigeria for violating COVID-19 protocols as well as the introduction of rapid antigen test as a requirement for Dubai travellers against the Nigerian government’s negative PCR requirements.
The ban on international flights from Nigeria by the UAE authorities was further extended in the month of March.
Read Also: COVID-19: FG Lifts Suspension Of Emirates Airlines Operations
Then later in February, UAE authorities suspended the airlifting of passengers from Nigeria to Dubai but stated that airlines can airlift passengers from Dubai to Nigeria as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Read Also: UAE Extends Ban On Flights From Nigeria To Dubai Till March 10
Later in early June, Federal Government said that it was discussing with UAE authorities on the resumption of flight operations between the two countries.
