The UAE has suspended the entry of passengers from Vietnam with effect from June 5, 23:59. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) have also announced that all flights of national and foreign carriers along with those carrying transit passengers from Vietnam will be suspended from Saturday. The decision applies to those passengers who stayed in Vietnam in the last 14 days before coming to the UAE.

However, transit flights coming to the UAE from other countries and heading to Vietnam have been exempted from the decision. A few flights between the two countries will continue to operate in order to allow passengers to travel from the UAE to Vietnam. It will also facilitate the transportation of exempted groups from Vietnam to the UAE.

The exempted groups include UAE citizens and their first-degree relatives, diplomatic missions such as embassies' administrators of the two countries, official delegations, chartered flights of businessmen, passengers holding golden and silver residency visas and fully vaccinated passengers.

It is important to note that golden and silver residency visa holders are required to receive prior approval from authorities before their flight. Furthermore, fully vaccinated passengers must be inoculated by World Health Organisation-approved vaccines and that 28 days have been passed since they received both doses. They must present a vaccination certificate or show an application approved in the two countries to confirm their vaccination status.

Crews of foreign shipment and transit aircraft as well as essential jobs holders as per the classification of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) are also exempted from the new travel protocols. However, they must present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure. Another PCR test will be conducted upon their arrival at UAE airports, and they are urged to comply with the necessary quarantine measures until their departure.

All exempted passengers are required to follow strict precautionary measures during their travel to protect the health and wellbeing of other travellers. Exempted groups will be required to undergo a 10-day quarantine and take PCR tests at the airport as well as on the fourth and eighth day of their stay in the UAE.

Earlier, the UAE decreased the validity of the COVID-19 PCR test from 72 hours to 48 hours before the flight departure, given that tests are administered by accredited laboratories issuing results with a QR code.

The NCEMA also stressed that it is important for passengers coming from Vietnam through other countries to have stayed in those countries for at least 14 days to be able to enter the UAE.

Meanwhile, cargo flights will continue to operate between the UAE and other countries.

In conclusion, the NCEMA has called upon all passengers affected by the revised protocols to connect with the relevant airlines for any changes or rescheduling requirements in order to ensure a safe journey. 

WAM