DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates imposed a travel ban for Pakistan,Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka starting from May 12 (Wednesday) in a bidto stem Covid spread, the country’s disasters authority said Monday.

According to the announcement from UAE national disaster managementauthority, flights between the four countries will continue to allow thetransport of passengers from the UAE. Adding that, this decision alsoincludes extending the suspension of entry for travelers who were in thesecountries in the 14-day period prior to arrival in the Gulf state.

However, those on diplomatic missions, official delegations, thosetraveling on business planes, and golden residence holders, will not berestricted to travel but they will undergo a 10-day quarantine and PCRtesting at the airport and on the fourth and eighth days after entering thecountry.

With the latest restriction in wake of Covid resurgence, the transitflights are also suspended while cargo flights are unaffected. It alsoreduced the PCR testing period before travel from 72 to 48 hours beforedeparture.

Let it be known that Canada, United Kingdom, and Iran have also bannedtravel from Pakistan, India, and other affected countries.