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Beginning tomorrow, Thursday August 5, 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will relax the flight restrictions on Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Uganda.
It was contained in a series of tweets on Tuesday by the UAE’s National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA).
Passengers travelling from countries where flights had been suspended would be able to transit through UAE’s airports from Thursday as long as they present negative PCR tests taken 72 hours prior to departure, NCEMA tweeted to announce UAE’s gradual opening up of its airports in the face of global spike COVID-19 cases.
UAE gradually gearing to host the world in October
Dubai is hosting the world to the 41st edition of Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2021 holding October 17-21 and Expo 2020.
Expo 2020 was originally scheduled to be a World Expo hosted by Dubai for 20 October 2020 – 10 April 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, the new dates are 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022.
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Flights from UAE to Nigeria were banned five months ago following disagreements over COVID-19 protocols between Nigeria and UAE as well as other countries that are major tourist and labour markets for Dubai.
The statement read, “Travel for transit passengers from all countries from which transit passengers have been suspended will be resumed in advance provided that the passenger’s last destination is accepted with a laboratory check-up within 72 hours of departure and state airports will allocate special lounges for transit passengers.
“Emergencies, crises and civil aviation announce the exclusion of new categories of passengers from some of the banned countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda, as of August 5.
“These categories include those with valid residency permits who have received full vaccination doses in the UAE and 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose and who have vaccination certificates approved by the official authorities in the country.
Emirates sees mid August for flights to and from Nigeria
However, Emirates’ flights to and from Nigeria will remain suspended until 15 August 2021, in line with government directives that restrict the entry of travellers originating from Nigeria into the UAE.
Flights are expected to be normalised this month as Dubai plans to host the world for Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2021and also celebrate the UAE’s Golden Jubilee.
GITEX holds in October and Nigeria is working to officially particulate alongside over 120 countries at the event through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
