DUBAI: Inbound passenger travel from 16 countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to the UAE will remain suspended until further notice, the Khaleej Times quoted the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), as saying.

Travel from Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Liberia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zambia will also remain suspended.

In a new safety decision, the authority has maintained the status quo on the previously issued travel restrictions. Further, the GCAA has barred all the UAE nationals, with the exception of diplomats and those suffering from medical emergencies, from travelling to these countries, as well.

The circular said: “The current development on the Covid-19 pandemic leads the UAE to impose new flight and passengers’ restrictions. The UAE government is closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates and instructions as necessary.”

The GCAA said the circular has been issued to “harmonise flight and passenger restrictions among all above countries”.

The circular reiterated several previously issued travel protocols, including allowing entry only to the UAE citizens, diplomats, and golden and silver visa residency  holders.

The inbound travel suspensions from the South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have been in place since April and May this year. The travel suspensions to South Africa have been in place since January this year.

Thousands of the UAE expatriates, stranded in these countries, are desperately waiting to return to their jobs and families.

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