UAE Lifts Travel Restrictions on Kenyan Travellers

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted entry restrictions on travelers from 12 countries including Kenya.

The other nations are Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Congo, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) announced that inbound passenger and transit flights from Kenya would be allowed into Dubai from Saturday, January 29.

Flights from Kenya to UAE have been barred since December 20, 2021. UAE cited an unusually high number of travellers testing positive for Covid-19 on arrival despite having presented negative Covid-19 results.

The ban notably did not affect cargo flights by carriers like Kenya Airways (KQ) and Emirates Airlines.

Kenya retaliated by banning flights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Kenya lifted the ban on all inbound and transit flights from Dubai on January 25.

Government officials have been locked in talks with their UAE counterparts in recent weeks to resolve the stalemate. On the fake test results issue, Kenya pointed a finger at private medical testing centres colluding with travellers to issue fake Covid-19 PCR results to aid their travel.

The Ministry of Health launched investigations into the matter with Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe promising that the culprits would be brought to book.

Passengers from Uganda, Ghana, and Rwanda remain subject to strict entry requirements in Dubai.

Passengers from the three countries are required to present negative Covid-19 PCR test certificates with QR codes for tests conducted at an approved facility no more than 48 hours before departure and at the airport within six hours before the flight. They are also required to undertake a PCR test upon arrival.