The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has issued a fresh list of strict safety protocols for exempted passengers on regular and charter flights arriving from countries where restrictions are in place.
Further, the UAE ‘Silver Visa’ holders can now enter UAE through flights even from places where passenger entry in suspended, as per the latest circular issued by the GCAA. Silver Visa holders are individuals who have a five-year residency permit.
Earlier, only ‘Golden Visa’ holders (10-year validity) were allowed. The other categories allowed to board flights from affected countries include members of diplomatic missions and UAE nationals.
New Covid safety measures listed by the GCAA in the circular for exempted passengers include mandatory tracking devices. Exempted passengers are required to wear the tracking devices for a minimum of 1- days.
The stringent regulations is applicable to all aircraft operators operating flights from and to the UAE, and countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Zambia and Vietnam.
As mentioned in the advisory, the current development on the Covid-19 pandemic makes the UAE to impose new flight and passengers’ restrictions. The UAE government is closely monitoring the situation, and further updates and instructions would follow when required.
According to GCAA official, the circular has been issued to all entities concerned.
Further, according to an internet travel agency, passengers arriving in Dubai have been adhering to a 10-day mandatory quarantine and are undergoing a series of PCR tests.
The GCAA circular also said that apart from tracking device and mandatory 10-day quarantine, passengers should take a PCR test upon arrival, followed by two other PCR tests on the fourth and eighth day of quarantine period.
The rules are also applicable to crew members operating from the above-mentioned countries. Further, passengers should immediately quarantine in a hotel during the entire transit period and their movement is restricted to the transport between the airport and the hotel, without being in touch with people in the UAE community.
The GCAA approval process is now ‘extremely stringent’ to ensure Covid-19 safety, say media reports.
The circular further said that all arrivals are subject to immigration conditions in the UAE and approval of National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) should be obtained for unscheduled and charter flights.
“NCEMA should be notified at least 5 days before the flight,” it said.
