The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will reopen its borders to South African travellers on January 29.
UAE was one of the many countries to impose travel bans against several southern African countries, including South Africa, following the discovery of the Omicron variant by South African scientists.
As more information came to light regarding the variant, many countries have lifted their bans and travel restrictions, with the latest being Italy and Indonesia.
Nearly two months since imposing the ban, Business Insider reports that the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority confirmed that travellers from the following countries will be granted entry again to the UAE: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
In another victory for South African travellers, after extending their travel ban countless times, Emirates will start carrying passengers out of Johannesburg on January 29.
Both double daily flights and flights to and from Cape Town and Durban will resume on February 1, according to a Fly Emirates statement.
All travellers must provide a negative PCR test result no older than 48 hours of departure. Those with Dubai as their final destination will need to repeat the test and be required to self-isolate until their results come through. Children under 12 are exempt from testing requirements.
In addition, to travel to the UAE, you must be fully vaccinated, and the details must be uploaded to the Al Hosn app.
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