Amidst dwindling Tourists numbers to Dubai the Authorities have eased the restrictions imposed on travel from High volume Source Markets like India, Nigeria and South Africa.
To most Travelers from Nigeria it will serve as a relief as the Test of will between the Dubai Authorities and Nigerian Ministry of Aviation has prolonged the Travel Ban. Dubai is a Popular Travel Destination for Nigerians. in 2019 it was in the Top 3 destination of Choice for Nigerians.
Dubai Airport Authority imposed a Ban on Passengers coming from Nigeria insisting that they fly Direct to Dubai from Lagos or Abuja. They also imposed a Rapid Antigen test Requirement which was rejected by Nigeria.
Nigerians considered the attitude of the Dubai Authorities as arrogant and Disrespectful to Nigerian Travellers and Subsequently Suspended the Services of Emirates Airline into Nigeria.
Last Week the CEO of Dubai Tourism announced plans to grow Tourism Arrivals from the 5.5 Million Tourists in the Past 12 months back to it’s normal Volume of Over 15million Tourists annually.
The Fall out with Nigeria started in February. According to a story on atqnews.com “The Nigerian Government has suspended immediately the flights of Emirates Airlines into its territory in response to the Nigeria Specific Rule of Airport Rapid Antigen test 4 hours before flight to be carried out by the airline.
Nigerian Government had frowned at the targeting of only Nigerians for this test.
Dubai Airport has insisted that only passengers flying Emirates will be allowed into the airport. That decision automatically bans other Airlines from carrying passengers to Dubai from Nigeria. This created a monopoly and immediate Price hike for the travellers who had to cancel their flights on other airlines to buy Emirates tickets.
“For us, passengers do the test 72 hours before departure and then the PCR test and the PTF recognizes the rights of all countries to put in measures to protect their citizens just like Nigeria has done.
In a Letter to country Manager of Emirates in Nigeria a copy cited by Atqnews, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Agency, NCAA, asked Emirates to Immediately Suspend its flights until it authorized to do so”
Emirates Ban is still on though the Dubai Authorities have lifted the Ban on Nigerian Travellers.
Emirates will now have to wait for the Nigerian Authorities to lift the Suspension placed on its Services.
Nigeria is the biggest source market in Africa.
Since February Covid19 has also wiped out Passenger Traffic coming from India one of Dubai’s major Source Markets.
So there is a need to change the entry Rules with Dubai Global Expo coming up in October 2021 and Summer around the Corner.
As part of its measures to ease inbound travel restrictions into the City, the Dubai Government has released new COVID19 entry protocols for passengers from South Africa, Nigeria, India and other countries effective 23rd of June 2021.
According to a release by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, passengers from South Africa to the country should have received two doses of a vaccine approved by the UAE authorities.
It added that passengers travelling from South Africa must present a negative test result for a PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure; UAE citizens are exempted.
“All passengers must undergo a PCR test on arrival at Dubai Airport. Transit passengers should comply with entry protocols of final destinations.
The Dubai Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management further added that passengers from Nigeria must have received a negative test result for a PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure, UAE citizens are exempted.
It emphasised that passengers should present a negative PCR test certificate with a QR code from labs approved by the Nigerian Government.
“All passengers must undergo a PCR test on arrival at Dubai Airport. Transit passengers should comply with entry protocols of final destinations”
On passengers from India, the body said, residents should have received two doses of a vaccine approved by UAE authorities.
It said passengers must have received a negative test result for a PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure, UAE citizens are exempted.
It added that only QR code PCR test result certificates are accepted for passengers from India, adding that all passengers should take a rapid PCR test 4 hours prior to flight departure.
“All passengers must undergo a PCR test on arrival at Dubai Airport. Passengers should undergo institutional quarantine until they receive their PCR test result, which is expected within 24 hours. UAE citizens and diplomats are exempted.
