Authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have lifted the ban it placed on flights from Nigeria and 11 other African countries.


The travel restriction was initially imposed by the UAE to stop the spread of COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant.

This announcement was made on Wednesday by the Arab nation’s General Civil Aviation Authority and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority.

The announcement reads in part, “From January 29, entry into the UAE for arrivals from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, the Republic of South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is allowed again.”

According to reports, the new travel policy would take effect from 2:30 pm on Saturday, January 29th, 2022.

The updated travel regulations state that travelers from these countries are still required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours prior to departure, also a negative rapid-PCR test at the airport before departure, and a third COVID-19 test upon arrival to the UAE.

Passengers are also advised to adhere to all COVID-19 precautionary measures while in the UAE.