Restrictions will come into force from December 17
Photo (for illustrative purposes): Reuters
The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) have announced the suspension of all inbound flights for national and international carriers and transit passengers from the Republic of Congo, from Friday, December 17, effective 8am.
This includes suspending the entry of travellers who were in the Central African country 14 days before coming to the UAE, while flight operations will continue to transport passengers from the UAE to the same country.
The GCAA affirmed that UAE nationals, their first degree relatives, domestic workers under their sponsorship, diplomatic missions, official delegations between UAE and Congo and Golden residence holders are excluded from this decision.
The excluded category 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 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, domestic workers under their sponsorship, diplomatic missions and golden residence holders.
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Flight operations will continue to transport passengers from the UAE to the Republic of Congo, the authority said.
The NCEMA noted that some categories were exempted from the suspension of entry. These are UAE citizens and relatives, diplomatic missions, Golden Visa holders, and official delegations.
The authority also outlined precautionary measures for exempted travellers:
UAE citizens are prohibited from travelling to Congo except for the country's emergency treatment cases, official delegations, and scholarships.