Monday, the UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) announced the suspension of entry for travelers from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal as of Wednesday, May 12. This came in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

However, transit flights from the UAE to the mentioned countries, cargo flights and flights transporting passengers from the UAE to the four countries, will continue to operate.

The NCEMA said in a statement that UAE citizens, diplomatic passport holders, official delegations, those traveling on business planes and golden visa holders, are excluded from the decision. Those excluded from the decision must adhere to a 10-day quarantine and must undergo a PCR test at the airport upon arrival.

“Travelers coming to the four countries through other countries are required to provide proof of a period of stay in those countries of no less than 14 days in order to be allowed to enter the UAE,” the NCEMA added.

In April, the UAE announced a ban on entry from India as a precaution against the spread of the Indian COVID-19 strain.