- The United Arab Emirates has maintained a ban on South African travelers, which has been in force for nearly seven months.
- Travellers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda who were previously banned will be allowed entry from Thursday.
- Nigeria notoriously banned all Emirates flights in protest of the ongoing travel ban.
- South Africans, whether fully vaccinated or not, will only be allowed to transit through the United Arab Emirates and will be restricted to “special lounges” at the airport.
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has updated its travel regulations to allow certain tourists from previously banned countries/regions to enter. South African travelers will only be allowed to pass.
Due to concerns about the Covid-19 Beta version, the UAE has tightened restrictions on South African travelers for nearly seven months. Although international travel bans have become commonplace during the pandemic, the UAE is considered particularly ruthless.
According to reports, thousands of expats-jobs and families waiting in the UAE-are trapped by the relentless travel ban First-hand report published by Khaleej Times in Dubai.
The form of probation announced by Emirates and Dubai Supreme Council for Crisis and Disaster Management has brought a glimmer of hope. Was quickly overthrown, Increased frustration.
The UAE National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA)-responsible for overseeing the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic-finally confirmed on Tuesday, Travel ban will be relaxed.
From Thursday, August 5th, certain categories of passengers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda will be allowed to enter the UAE. This includes travelers with residence permits, as long as they have been fully vaccinated.
But South Africa — as well as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam and Zambia — remains firmly on the UAE’s restricted list. Passengers from these countries will be allowed to use the airport for connecting flights, but will be included in the “special lounge”.
The decision to lift the ban on Nigeria while keeping South Africans out is particularly important. The UAE’s initial restrictions on Nigeria, allowing Emirates to operate outbound flights from the UAE, as in the case of South Africa, have been fiercely criticized.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika responded to these restrictions by banning Emirates from flying to Nigeria. This interrupted the route between the two countries for more than three months. At the same time, Emirates operates a limited flight schedule to South Africa for most of the year.
Emirates has yet to announce its flight plan According to the transit allowance from South Africa to the UAE.
This is when more countries (especially Europe) are reopening to South African travelers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19. The UAE proposed the same allowance as early as June, but it was quickly withdrawn.
(Compiled by Luke Daniel)
