DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday announced that residents, who have been fully vaccinated with a shot approved by the World Health Organisation, could return as of September 12 from a list of previously suspended countries.
The decision was announced by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced on Friday. The decision includes passengers coming from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.
“Those who are fully vaccinated with any WHO-approved vaccines and who have been staying in one of the countries in the suspended list for more than six months since the suspension decision was issued for each country, can come to the country under a new entry permit and rectify their status after entry,” NCEMA said in a statement.
The passengers will be required to follow certain procedures to enter the UAE again:
- Apply via the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) and complete the vaccination application in order to get the necessary approval. They must present the approved vaccination certificate before their departure to the UAE.
- A negative PCR test result, done within 48 hours before departure at an approved lab that has a QR code, must also be presented before departure.
- People must take a rapid PCR test before boarding, on the fourth, and on the eight day of their arrival to the country while complying with all precautionary measures in place.
NCEMA said that children under 16 years old are exempt from these procedures. “All other previously announced precautionary measures for unvaccinated people coming from the above-mentioned countries remain in place”, NCEMA added.
Dubai, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, is due to open the Expo 2020 world fair on October 1 after a year-long delay due to the pandemic. The regional business and tourism hub is relying on the fair to give its economy a boost.
Organisers had previously said they expect remaining UAE flight restrictions imposed to curb coronavirus infections to be lifted in time for Expo 2020.
