ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates has decided to suspend entry for travelers coming from Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the UAE's official news agency WAM said on Wednesday.

The move, which will come into force at 11:59 p.m. on June 11 (Friday), on all flights of national and foreign carriers, as well as transit passengers coming from them, exempts transit flights coming to the country and heading to these countries.

The decision exempts transit flights coming to the UAE and heading towards these countries. This decision is applicable to the entry of travelers who were in Zambia, D.R. Congo, and Uganda in the last 14 days before coming to the UAE.

Flights between these countries and the UAE will continue to operate, allowing the transportation of passengers from the UAE to those countries. It will also allow the transfer of some exempted groups from the three aforementioned countries to the UAE, with strict enforcement of precautionary measures.

These groups include UAE citizens and their first degree relatives, and diplomatic missions accredited between the UAE and these countries, including administrators working in embassies, official delegations, chartered flights by businessmen provided that they receive prior approval, those holding golden and silver residency visas, holders of essential jobs according to the classification of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), as well as crews of foreign cargo and transit aircraft, provided that they obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR taken within 48 hours of departure and another one upon arrival. They will also have to quarantine until departure.

‏The exempted groups are required to undertake preventive measures that include a 10-day quarantine and a PCR test at the airport, as well as on the fourth and eighth day after entering the country.

Moreover, the validity of the PCR test period has been reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours prior to travel from accredited laboratories that issue test results carrying a QR code.

The authority also confirmed that it is required for those coming from Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda through other countries to stay in those countries for at least 14 days before being allowed to enter the UAE. Cargo flights will continue to operate between the UAE and these countries.

The authority called upon all travelers affected by the decision to follow up with the relevant airlines to change or reschedule their flights and to ensure their safe return to their final destinations without delay or other obligations. — SG