Passengers arriving on international flights get their Covid-19 coronavirus screening done at the Anna International airport in Chennai on April 28, 2021. AFP
Passengers arriving on international flights get their Covid-19 coronavirus screening done at the Anna International airport in Chennai on April 28, 2021. AFP
Passengers arriving on international flights get their Covid-19 coronavirus screening done at the Anna International airport in Chennai on April 28, 2021. AFP
Passengers arriving on international flights get their Covid-19 coronavirus screening done at the Anna International airport in Chennai on April 28, 2021. AFP

UAE extends India flight restrictions amid Covid-19 surge


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The UAE has extended the suspension of entry for travellers from India on all flights on national and foreign carriers, as well as for transit passengers coming from India.

This decision includes extending the suspension of entry for travellers who were in India in the 14-day period prior to arrival in the UAE.

Officials previously halted flights until May 14.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation, which announced the extension on Tuesday, gave no date for when services would resume.

It listed a number of exemptions including UAE citizens, those on diplomatic missions, official delegations, those travelling on business planes, and golden residence holders.

These groups will be subject to precautionary measures that include a 10-day quarantine and PCR testing at the airport and on the fourth and eighth days after entering the country.

The authority reminded exempted travellers the PCR test must be valid 48 hours and not 72 hours before the flight. The test results should carry a QR code and be conducted by an accredited laboratory.

Cargo flights continue to operate between the two nations.

Civil aviation authorities said Indians coming to the UAE from other countries should carry proof of stay in those nations for at least 14 days.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said it supported the people and government of India and wished Covid-19 patients a speedy recovery.

The ministry said the nation’s friendship with India was based on historical links, shared respect and understanding.

The UAE continues to show solidarity with India during these challenging times.

India's Covid-19 crisis - in pictures 

  • A man carries a refilled cylinder as families of Covid-19 patients queue to refill their oxygen containers at Mayapuri in New Delhi, India. AP Photo
    A man carries a refilled cylinder as families of Covid-19 patients queue to refill their oxygen containers at Mayapuri in New Delhi, India. AP Photo
  • An Indian health worker takes a break while waiting to collect swab samples for Covid-19 tests in Hyderabad, India. AP Photo
    An Indian health worker takes a break while waiting to collect swab samples for Covid-19 tests in Hyderabad, India. AP Photo
  • The wife of Nanhe Pal, 52, cries as she pleads for oxygen support for her husband, who is suffering from breathing problems at a Gurudwara, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Ghaziabad, India. Reuters
    The wife of Nanhe Pal, 52, cries as she pleads for oxygen support for her husband, who is suffering from breathing problems at a Gurudwara, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Ghaziabad, India. Reuters
  • A health worker collects a nasal swab sample from a man to test for Covid-19 after police in rural areas launched a free cab service for villagers to the testing and vaccination centres on the outskirts of Amritsar. AFP
    A health worker collects a nasal swab sample from a man to test for Covid-19 after police in rural areas launched a free cab service for villagers to the testing and vaccination centres on the outskirts of Amritsar. AFP
  • A woman who was turned away due to a shortage of Covid-19 vaccine argues with a doctor at a vaccination centre in Mumbai, India. AP Photo
    A woman who was turned away due to a shortage of Covid-19 vaccine argues with a doctor at a vaccination centre in Mumbai, India. AP Photo
  • People lower the body of 65-year-old Arnold Samuel Christian, who died from the coronavirus disease, into a grave at a cemetery in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters
    People lower the body of 65-year-old Arnold Samuel Christian, who died from the coronavirus disease, into a grave at a cemetery in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters
  • Volunteers and relatives prepare to cremate the bodies of coronavirus victims at a crematorium g in Giddenahalli village on the outskirts of Bangalore, India. Reuters
    Volunteers and relatives prepare to cremate the bodies of coronavirus victims at a crematorium g in Giddenahalli village on the outskirts of Bangalore, India. Reuters