The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted the ban on all passenger flights to and from Kenya and several other African countries.
The UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) announced on Wednesday, January 26, an end to the impasse on flights to and from Kenya and 11 other countries.
Flights from Kenya to Dubai are expected to resume on Saturday, January 29.
The UAE, in allowing the resumption of the flights, further issued new directives in line with the overhaul of the suspension. Passengers will be required to present a negative Covid-19 rapid test certificate with a QR Code for the test performed within 6 hours to departure.
They will also be required to undergo a complete PCR test upon arrival.
On December 20, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) banned all transport services with inbound and transit passenger movements from Kenya.
"Customers will not be accepted to travel on Emirates flights at Nairobi during this time," read an excerpt from Emirates.
The ban was informed by claims that passengers from Kenya presented fake Covid-19 certificates at departure, only to test positive on arrival.
Dubai's decree came days after Kenya lifted its ban on flights to and from Dubai on January 25 through an announcement made by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
"Inbound and transit passenger flights from UAE are suspended for a period of seven days. We are doing this to reciprocate a ban on Kenyan passenger flights to UAE," KCAA Director General, Gilbert Kibe stated.
Flights from Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kongo, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe will also be allowed access to the Middle Eastern country.
