Update: The UAE has extended the ban on passengers or those who have travelled/transited from India until May 31, 2021.
Earlier today, I wrote about the change of stance of one of India’s biggest recipient of tourists, Dubai, who would now insist on a 48-hour sample collection for the RT-PCR negative report as compared to the earlier 72-hour reports they have been asking for a long while. However, things have moved fast, and Emirates has now made further changes.
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
As per Emirates, the Dubai-based global airline and Air Arabia will not be carrying passengers originating from India into Dubai and onwards from Dubai for ten days starting April 24, 2021. That means no Indian passport holder can travel from India to Dubai from April 24 onwards to May 31, 2021, if originating from India.
The airline will continue to fly passengers to India and operate cargo flights. Amongst all of this, UAE Nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with the revised published COVID‑19 protocols will be exempt for travel.
Here is an Emirates Travel Update posted this evening:
As per various preliminary reports, the arrival of Indians from other countries will also be stopped unless the Indian passenger has been in the other country for at least 14 days.
Here is an Emirates trade note in this regard.
Here is a trade note put out by AirArabia for their customers to this effect.
Later in the evening, even Etihad has stopped accepting Indian passengers into the UAE.
Remember, India-UAE is the most popular route for Indian airlines, and other airlines should be making similar notifications sooner than later.
Bottomline
If you were scheduled to fly from India to Dubai/Abu Dhabi or any other Emirates over the coming days, please recheck your plans. Airlines such as Etihad/Emirates and Air Arabia have already notified that they won’t be flying passengers from India to the UAE or onwards for ten days but will operate flights in the return direction to bring Indians home.
What do you make of this stance of the UAE disallowing passengers to fly from India to the UAE?
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We have our officer who is a Solomon Islands National has completed his study in India. We are organizing his return and his itinerary is to transit via Dubai before travel to Australia and back to Solomon Islands.
Your advise on requirements to be produced for exemption is appreciated.
Does this also apply to transit through UAE?
@Nrad, if you are an Indian passport holder, they won’t take you on board. Simple
Hi Ajay, please be accurate in your reporting. Only UAE Nationals and Diplomats will be allowed to board from India to the UAE. All other nationalities will not be allowed to board any aircraft to the UAE from India or if they have been in India for the past 14 days. Request you to research well and help your readers. Thanks.
Hi Ajay, a very wise move by the Government of UAE. Given that Dubai has no quarantine requirements, being a UAE resident I was aghast at the surge in Indians travelling to Dubai for tourism. And as usual, Indian tourists not wearing masks well, and some smart cookies flying in with fake reports.India, like the UK needs a total travel ban for 3-4 months else the variants will happily find their way to the world.
Finally, can you please amend your article. No one can travel to UAE from India other than UAE nationals, and Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders. You have mentioned only Indian passport holders cannot travel to UAE.