NEW DELHI: The
United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday barred entry of travellers from India for 10 days from April 25 to May 4, amid an unrelenting surge in Covid cases.
Consequently, neither Emirates nor other airlines will fly passengers from India.
However, Indians can arrive into UAE only if they have stayed in some other country for at least 14 days. The same rule applies for passengers transiting through UAE.
UAE is the second country after UK to bar the entry of Indians due to highly infectious new Covid strain that has led to an explosive rise in number of cases.
“From 11.59 pm on April 24, no travel shall be allowed on India-Dubai for 10 days till 11.59 pm on May 4. During this period travel from Dubai to India is not effected. Diplomatic/official missions are exempted. UAE nationals stranded in India are allowed to return to UAE. No transit passengers shall be allowed ex-India. Private jets/planes are allowed,” said an official.
Delhi-Dubai and Mumbai-Dubai have been among the busiest international routes even during the pandemic.
“Effective April 24, and for the next 10 days, Emirates flights from India to the UAE will be suspended. Furthermore, passengers who have transited through India in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE. Affected customers should contact their travel agent or Emirates contact centre for rebooking options. Emirates regrets any inconvenience caused,” Emirates said in a statement.
Before the 10-day ban, Dubai had tightened entry norms for travellers from India.
Passengers going from India to Dubai will now require a negative Covid report from a test done within 48 hours of departure — reduced from 72 hours earlier.
The test reports must also have a QR code linked to the original report for verification by the airline and the same will be verified by Dubai health authorities on arrival.
Earlier this week, the United Kingdom added India to its red list of countries. As a result, Indians will not be allowed to enter UK from 8.30 am (India time) on Friday. While, British citizens will need to quarantine themselves in a hotel for 10 days upon arrival.
“If you have been in or through any of the (red list countries) in the previous 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK. If you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK, you will be able to enter. You must quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days,” UK government website said.
The decision comes after India's tally of Covid-19 cases soared by 314,835 over the previous 24 hours, the highest daily increase recorded anywhere.
The previous record one-day rise in cases was held by the United States, at 297,430, in January.