UAE suspends entry of travellers from seven countries

The UAE on Friday suspended inbound flights from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19 variants.

The travel ban will take effect from Monday, November 29.

The General Civil Aviation Authority and the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management announced the suspension of entry for travellers from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique on all flights, as well as transit passengers arriving from them.

This includes suspending the entry of travellers who were in these countries during a period of 14 days before coming to the UAE. However, flights will be allowed to transport passengers from the UAE to these countries.

It will also allow the transfer of excluded groups which include official delegations and UAE citizens, diplomatic missions approved between the UAE and these countries and holders of golden visa.

Following the announcement from COVID 19 Command and Control Centre (CCC), Dubai's flag carrier Emirates has suspended inbound passenger flights from seven South African nations. However, outbound flights from Dubai to these countries will not be affected. Passengers traveling to these countries can continue to fly as booked.

As per the airline's notice on its website, travellers originating from, or transiting from, the countries listed below will not be accepted for travel into Dubai with effect from Monday, November 29, 2021 until further notice.