UAE to suspend travel from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka from May 12

Suspension excludes transit flights coming to the UAE and bound to these countries

ABU DHABI:

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority announced on Monday suspension entry for travelers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka on all flights of national and foreign carriers, as well as transit passengers coming from them as 23:59pm on May 12.

The decision comes as countries take measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, cases of which have again been on the rise in several countries.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the suspension excludes transit flights coming to the country and bound to these countries.

This decision is applicable to the entry of travellers who were in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka in the last 14 days before coming to the UAE, WAM further stated..

Read Pakistan mulls over banning inbound flights from May 5 amid virus upsurge

Flights between these countries and the UAE will continue to operate, allowing the transportation of passengers from the UAE to those countries.

It will also allow the transfer of some exempted groups from the four aforementioned countries to the UAE, with strict enforcement of precautionary measures

The only exceptions are UAE citizens, diplomatic missions, official delegations, Golden Visa holders and businessmen's jets, reported the Khaleej Times.

The Khaleej Times further reported that passengers expemted from the suspension will have to undergo a PCR test no more than 48 hours before the flight. "They must undergo a PCR test upon arrival in the UAE," the report further added.

The exempted passengers are also to undergo a 10-day quarantine in the UAE, with PCR tests to be conducted on days four and eight of entry.