UAE suspends all flights from Congo, announces new travel rules for four other African countries

The UAE has announced that all inbound flights from Congo will be suspended from 8am on Friday, December 17.

The decision applies to national and international carriers as well as transit passengers, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced.

Travellers who were in Congo up to 14 days before coming to the UAE will also not be permitted to enter the country, official news agency WAM reported.

Only UAE nationals, their first degree relatives, domestic workers under their sponsorship, diplomatic missions, official delegations between UAE and Congo and golden residence holders are exempt from the decision.

These travellers will need to 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 in the UAE.

They will also need to quarantine for 10 days and undertake another PCR test on the ninth day of entering the country.

Authorities confirmed that flights will continue to transport passengers from the UAE to Congo.

However, UAE citizens are prohibited from travelling to Congo except for the country’s emergency treatment cases, official delegations and scholarships.

New travel requirements

The UAE has also introduced new travel requirements for those coming on direct flights from the following countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia, WAM reported.

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

Those coming from these four countries to the UAE on transit flights will also require 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 communicate with the airlines to amend and schedule their flights.

#NCEMA and the General Civil Aviation Authority: Suspensions of entry for travelers from the Republic of the Congo, and tightening travel restrictions on a number of countries, starting December 17, at 08:00AM.#TogetherWeRecover pic.twitter.com/wWJoyjTbvL

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) December 15, 2021