The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 3 announced exceptions of new categories of travellers from India and five other countries. According to the new travel guidelines issued by UAE, Indians who own resident visas and are fully vaccinated in UAE and completed 14 days after the second dose will be permitted to enter UAE on acceptance of their registration with either GDRFA Dubai or ICA UAE.
Following the easing of restrictions, flights from some Indian cities to Abu Dhabi are scheduled to resume from Saturday, August 7, the UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways has said. From August 10, the airline will begin flights from three additional Indian cities for travel to the UAE, as well as from three Pakistani cities.
Flights from cities like Chennai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, and New Delhi to Abu Dhabi will resume on Saturday while flights from India to Sharjah and Dubai had already started earlier this week on Thursday (August 5). UAE Airlines Air Arabia and Emirates operated one service each to the UAE from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Thursday.
Between August 7 and 9, Etihad will operate services from Chennai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Trivandrum and New Delhi. From August 10, the airline will begin flights from three additional Indian cities, as well as from three Pakistani cities, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for transit passengers to access Etihad’s global network of destinations. These include flights from Ahmedabad (for transit only), Hyderabad and Mumbai, as well as Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Etihad will also operate flights from Dhaka and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Ultra-low cost carrier Go First, formerly known as GoAir has commenced direct flights between three India cities -Mumbai, Kochi, and Kannur — and Doha from August 5. The flights, operated under the ‘Air Bubble’ agreement, will make Doha its first destination in Qatar and the sixth in GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries.
The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) started departure flight operations early on Thursday. UAE Airlines, Air Arabia and Emirates operated one service each to UAE on Friday, a CIAL release said.
However, note that not all Indian flyers can travel to the UAE; only transit passengers and UAE residents are allowed to travel.
Medical workers, teachers at schools and universities in the Emirates, students, residents with extenuating circumstances, people undergoing medical treatment in the UAE and people who work for federal or local government agencies are allowed to enter the UAE.
Passengers who are inoculated by any of the following vaccines are eligible for travel:
Sputnik V
Oxford/AstraZeneca
Pfizer/BioNTech
Moderna
Janssen (Johnson and Johnson)
Sinopharm
Novavax
also read
- UAE heavy rains: Dubai airport to become fully operational within 24 hours
- Heavy rains lash UAE, surrounding nations as death toll in Oman flooding rises to 18
- No T-shirts or tight-fitting clothes: Check dress code for UAE’s first Hindu stone temple
- 'UAE inspires the world with its commitment to religious freedom': Venu Rajamony
At least 14 days should have passed after receiving the second vaccine dose. They must also hold a certificate to this effect. The decision includes people who are in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda. The UAE government said unvaccinated people in certain job categories can seek permission to return.
Travellers must carry a negative result of a PCR test taken a maximum of 48 hours before the first flight departure time.
