UAE airline to require negative COVID-19 test from Filipinos, other nationalities before boarding

Passengers from the Philippines as well as 11 other countries will be required a negative COVID-19 certificate before they can be allowed to board Emirates Airline flights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The new requirement, which follows a UAE government policy directive, takes effect on July 10, according to an advisory from the Dubai-based airline issued on July 8.

“Effective July 10 onwards, all passengers travelling with Emirates from the countries or airports specified [on the list] have to carry a COVID-19 negative certificate issued by a local government-approved laboratory to be accepted on the flight,” the advisory read.

“Where specified, a certificate from a UAE government designated laboratory in the country of origin is also acceptable,” it added.

The airline also said certificates “must be issued no more than 96 hours before departure.”

The Philippines, which has 51,754 COVID-19 cases and 1,314 COVID-19 deaths as of posting time, has several hundreds of workers who have remained stranded after the UAE suspended all flights in March.

Among them is Kate Marajas, marketing officer at an Abu Dhabi-based real estate company, who told GMA Online News she was hoping that returning resident visa holders like her would be given consideration.

“I understand that they’re just taking precautions since COVID-19 cases are increasing. Pero I also hope that they’ll consider the resident visa holders first. Let residents enter the country kasi we’re also at risk of losing our jobs,” said Marajas, who is currently staying with her family in Batangas.

Kris Ayuso, a Dubai-based OFW, made it back to the UAE on July 9, arriving at Dubai International Airport (DXB) around 4 a.m.

“Matagal lang ang pila [sa DXB] dahil sa mga documents na hinihingi, including Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) at may swab testing sa airport,” she said.

Like Marajas, Ayuso has been stranded since March.

Other countries on the advisory list were Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Sudan, Tanzania and the USA - Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO), including passengers originating from California, Florida and Texas connecting to an Emirates flight to Dubai.

On June 28, the UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) announced that residents with valid residency visa permits who were currently out of the country must undergo a COVID-19 test and receive a negative result before returning to the country.

The regulations were part of ongoing efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and support the UAE’s strategy of gradually easing travel restrictions.

As part of the new regulations, the UAE government has issued a list of preconditions that need to be followed ahead of the approved return of foreign nationals with valid residence permits to the UAE.

All returning residents must also comply with 14-day isolation rules at home or in an isolation facility. In addition, they must bear all costs of tests and quarantine in the event that their private accommodation doesn’t meet required standards. Employers of foreign nationals with UAE visas should bear any such expenses whenever required.

Returning UAE residents were likewise instructed to download one of the approved smart phone apps so health authorities can monitor their status and ensure the safety of the public. —KBK, GMA News