Passengers from BD can transit through UAE from August 5

Dhaka: The United Arab Emirates is going to lift the ongoing ban on transit flights from Bangladesh on August 5. The country will also allow transit flights from India and Pakistan from the same day.

Dubai-based Emirates appreciated the UAE government's decision, allowing travel to resume from the affected countries. The airline also announced that it will be resuming scheduled flights from Dhaka to Dubai from August 5 carrying eligible transit passengers following the government’s directive.

UAE’s National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA) made the announcement on August 3, mentioning that Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are important markets for Emirates, Etihad Airways and other UAE carriers.

The major international travel hub imposed the ban on passengers from many South Asian and African states travelling through its airports in 2021 over coronavirus concerns, especially since delta variant cases are soaring in the region.

NCEMA said on Twitter and other social media that passengers travelling from countries where flights had been banned would be able to transit through its airports from August 5.

For this purpose, passengers must present a negative PCR coronavirus test taken 72 hours before departure.

Final destination approval would also have to be provided, NCEMA claimed, adding that UAE departure airports would arrange separate lounges for transiting passengers.

The transit ban had also included Nepal, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Nigeria.

With this, UAE is also easing the entry ban on residents returning from countries where flights had been suspended.

NCEMA mentioned that those with valid residencies and who are certified by Emirati authorities as fully vaccinated can now enter the Gulf State. But, they would need to apply online for entry permits prior to travelling and would need to present a negative PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure.

Passengers working in the medical, educational or government sectors in the Gulf State and those studying or completing medical treatment in the UAE would be exempt from the vaccination requirement as would humanitarian cases.