UAE sets conditions for travel to select destinations from June 23

Dr Amna Al Dhahak, spokeswoman for the UAE health sector, has clarified that the new rules easing restrictions on the elderly and children under 12 only applies to the emirate of Dubai. "Adults up to the age of 70 can enter malls, but the lower age limit of children under 12 is still in force for other emirates," she said.

Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokesperson for the UAE government, said: "We should continue protecting ourselves through adhering to the precautionary measures, boost our immune system through health lifestyles-including balanced diets and exercise, protect our families and community and to take care of family members or anyone who have chronic diseases."

The UAE also announced three categories of destinations for citizens and residents wanting to travel abroad from June 23 and specified conditions for travellers.

Dr Seif Al Dhaheri, spokesperson from the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, said in a virtual press briefing on Wednesday that countries that are allowed for Emiratis to travel to are split into three categories: low-risk where everyone can travel, medium risk (travel for specific purposes) and high-risk countries (no travel).

The mandatory conditions that travellers must adhere to before travelling include: UAE residents/citizens will have to register for the Twajudi service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, people cannot travel unless they are Covid-19 negative, they must have international health insurance and should abide by the precautinary measures at the airport.

"Individuals with temperature more than 38ºC will be isolated; those with symptoms will not be allowed to travel," said Al Dhaheri.

"Travellers will have to fill in a health application and pledge that they will adhere to all requirements, and not travel anywhere else that they haven't declared. If you fall sick in the destination country, you will inform the UAE embassy/consulate there."

Highlighting the conditions to adhere to while returning to the UAE, the officials said travelers must wear face masks and gloves all the time, carry a travel file, including health status and ID cards, and should download the AlHosn app.

Returnees will also undergo a 14-day home quarantine or for seven days if one is returning from low-risk countries. If they belong to the vital sectors and if home quarantine is not possible, travellers can opt for hotel quarantine.

"There are specific measures for certain categories of people like students, diplomats, those in essential jobs," he said.

UAE'S TRAVEL GUIDELINES FOR CITIZENS & RESIDENTS

>> Before leaving the UAE

. Register with Twajudi

. Ensure you meet all requirements of the destination: Pre-travel check-up, health insurance, quarantine, tracking programmes/apps

. Follow guidelines and precautions at the airport and in the aircraft

. Fill out the traveller's health status form

. Complete a medical check before departure

. Register through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) website in order to travel outside the UAE

. People over 70 are not allowed to travel. Those with chronic diseases are discouraged to travel

>> At the destination

. Follow local guidelines and measures for Covid-19

. Self-monitoring for Covid-19 symptoms

. UAE citizens must notify the UAE embassy in destination country if you experience any symptoms

. If you experience any symptoms, head to the nearest medical centre for emergency testing

>> Upon returning to the UAE

. Follow the federal and local guidelines for Covid-19

. Download and activate the AlHosn app

. Follow UAE quarantine guidelines and testing procedures (which vary depending on the destination the traveller is returning from)

Credit: khaleejtimes.com

Pakistan to resume Flight Operations June 20

Pakistan allows all airlines to operate, passengers to buy tickets directly

Stranded Pakistanis are no more required to wait for special flights ticket as the government has allowed all international airlines to resume their flight operations from June 20.

In a series of tweet, Pakistan's Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development said that now intended travellers to the country will be able to buy tickets directly from the airlines and they don't have to wait for call from the consulate and the embassy for approval to buy tickets.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a Federal Cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday and gave green signal to resume international flight operation.

Initially, the international flights will only operate from Gulf countries and at later stage other airlines will be allowed to repatriate stranded Pakistanis through normal flight operations, according to sources. Pakistan suspended international flights on Mach 21 to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Ghulam Dastgir, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE, said Islamabad has decided to open its airspace for all international airlines in a phased manner.

"In first phase, international airlines are allowed to book stranded Pakistanis from June 20 onwards. It will help facilitate overseas Pakistanis who stranded after the ban on international flights in March,"" Dastgir told Khaleej Times on Wednesday.

More than 80,000 stranded Pakistani citizens have registered with the Pakistani diplomatic missions in the UAE so far. Majority of this [around 70,000] are registered with the Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai.

"We have repatriated more than 36,000 Pakistanis, including 18,000-plus from Dubai, so far. Pakistan International Airlines has repatriated more than 29,000 Pakistanis and rest have been travelled through the UAE airlines including Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia," the ambassador said.

Majority of 1.5 million Pakistanis residing in the UAE are comprising of blue-collar workers and many of them have lost their jobs and are now stranded due to coronavirus crisis.

He said Pakistani government is coordinating with the UAE authorities to organise special flight operations to repatriate its citizens from the emirate.

"We started the registration of stranded Pakistanis in the UAE in March. We proposed the government to open Pakistani airspace with more international flights so maximum people can get benefit of the policy," the ambassador said.

Dr Moeed Yusuf, special assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister on National Security, said all airlines will be allowed to operate in Pakistan from June 20.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said up to 45,000 Pakistanis per week are expected to return to the country following the ease of ban on international flights.

Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, special assistant to Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistani, was also present on the occasion.

"We are going to resume international flights with 25 per cent capacity with affect from June 20 to accelerate the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis," Yusuf said.

Sources said Bukhari convinced the prime minister to allow international flights as soon as possible to facilitate overseas Pakistanis. "Nearly 200,000 Pakistanis have become jobless and stranded mostly in Gulf countries and we need to offer them helping hand," Bukhari informed the prime minister.

Yusuf said overseas Pakistan are no more required registration and approval to book their return flights to the country.

"We are ready to facilitate stranded Pakistanis. All passengers will not be screened for Covid-19. However, passengers will have to self-quarantined at home for 14 days," he said.

According to aviation officials, Pakistan has already allowed eight airports across the country to receive repatriation flights and more measures will be announced in due course of time to facilitate the return of overseas Pakistanis.

Credit: khaleejtimes.com