UAE bans travelers from Nigeria, 3 others over Omicron, starting from Saturday

Barely a week after resolving issues with Nigerian aviation authorities about slot allocation dispute, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned Nigerians, along with three other African countries from entry into the Gulf nation over concerns from the Omicron variant of the Covid-19.

The UAE also banned travellers from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia over the spread of the omicron COVID-19 variant.

However, in banning passengers from the affected countries, the UAE said departures from its airports will continue to arrive at the listed countries.

Nigeria is yet to react to the latest development from the Gulf nation.

Nigeria and the UAE were involved in a spat over slot allocations at their major hubs which was only resolved when the Gulf nations rescinded its rejection of a request by Nigerian carrier, Air Peace to operate three frequencies, as Nigeria then restored the special grant of 21 slots to the national carrier of the UAW, the Emirates Airlines.

Before then, the denial of visas to Nigerians over ‘discriminatory’ Covid-19 protocols at the UAE’s Dubai airport had caused a near seven-month suspension of flights services by Emirates into the country, as Nigeria banned the carrier from entry into its airspace.

In its latest announcement over the Omicron variant, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) agencies of the UAE said the suspension of all inbound flights for national and international carriers and transit passengers from the four countries will begin from Saturday, December 25, effective 7.30 am.

This it added includes; suspending the entry of travellers who were in the four countries 14 days before coming to the UAE, while flight operations will continue to transport passengers from the UAE to the same countries.

According to the statement by the agencies, the UAE nationals, their first degree relatives, diplomatic missions, official delegations between UAE and these countries and Golden residence holders are excluded from this decision.

“The excluded categories should present a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 48 hours of departure and a Rapid-PCR test at the airport within six hours of departure whenever possible and another PCR test at the airport upon arrival to UAE.

“A 10-day quarantine and a PCR test on the ninth day of entering the country is required for UAE nationals, their first-degree relatives, diplomatic missions and golden residence holders.

“GCAA also affirmed that it is required for those coming from the four countries through other countries to stay in latter countries for at least 14 days before being allowed to enter the UAE.

“UAE citizens are barred from travelling to the four African countries except for the country’s emergency treatment cases, official delegations, and scholarships,” the statement read in part.

It added that the two authorities have introduced new travel requirements for those coming on direct flights from Uganda and Ghana.

“These include having a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 48 hours and a Rapid-PCR test at the airport within six hours of the departure.

“Those coming from Uganda and Ghana to the UAE on transit flights also have to have a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 48 hours and a Rapid-PCR test at the airport of their main point of departure within six hours of travelling in addition to another Rapid PCR test at the transit airport before being allowed to enter the UAE.

“GCAA called on all travellers affected by the decision to follow up and communicate with the airlines to amend and schedule their flights and to ensure their safe return to their final destinations without any delay or other obligations,” it said.