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· The United Arabs Emirates lifted the ban on all inbound and transit passenger flights from Kenya since last year
· From, Saturday onwards, passengers from that country will be allowed entry into Dubai
· The UAE also resumed the entry for passengers from Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Congo, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 29
The United Arabs Emirates lifted the ban on all inbound and transit passenger flights from Kenya since last year. From Saturday onwards, passengers from that country will be allowed entry into Dubai. The ban was lifted last Wednesday night.
This is a major relief to hundreds of travellers between the two destinations. The entry right was denied from the UAE to passengers from Kenya on December 20, 2021. The ban was imposed since there were cases of misrepresentations of the Covid-19 infection status of the passengers. Travelers from Nairobi were testing positive for Covid-19 on arrival in the Middle East country, despite presenting negative test results. Cargo flights were exempted from the ban. Cargo carriers like Kenya Airways (KQ) and Emirates Airlines were operating during the ban time.
The UAE also resumed the entry for passengers from Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Congo, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 29. There are strict entry level requirements particularly for passengers from Uganda, Ghana, and Rwanda. They. will be subjected to strict entry requirements into Dubai.
Passengers from the three countries will be required to present negative Covid-19 PCR test certificates with QR codes for tests conducted at an approved facility no more than 48 hours before departure and at the airport within six hours before the flight. They are also required to undertake a PCR test upon arrival.
Dubai is opening its borders to Kenya days after Nairobi lifted a retaliatory ban on all inbound and transit passenger flights from the Middle East nation. In Kenya, there were fake Covid-19 testing labs run by private people, wo colluded with travellers to issue negative PCR results to aid their travel. Kenyan Ministry of health has launched an inquiry on such diagnostic labs to unearth the conspiracy.
