The United Arab Emirates has banned all inbound flights from Nigeria.
In a statement today, the country also suspended flights for national and international carriers and transit passengers from Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, effective Saturday, December 25.
The UAE, however, said flight operations will continue to transport passengers from the UAE to Nigeria and the other countries.
“The UAE nationals, their first degree relatives, diplomatic missions, official delegations between UAE and these countries and Golden residence holders are excluded from this decision,” the statement said.
“The excluded categories 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 whenever possible 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, diplomatic missions and golden residence holders”.
In addition, the country has introduced new travel requirements for those coming on direct flights from Uganda and Ghana.
These include having a negative Covid-19 test obtained within 48 hours and a Rapid-PCR test at the airport within six hours of the departure.
This comes days after Nigeria gave its approval approval for Emirates Airlines’ winter flight schedule, consisting of 21 weekly passenger flight frequencies to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja; and the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos
