Abu Dhabi: Giving respite to thousands of Indian citizens stuck in the country due to a travel ban, the UAE has given permission to holders of residence visa to return from August 5.
The decision was announced by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) of UAE on Tuesday.
Besides travellers from India, the UAE will be reopening its doors to arrivals from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda as well.
Those who travel must have completed at least 14 days since the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination. Only those who were administered with the vaccines accepted by the UAE will be granted entry.
Those travelling must also carry the vaccination certificate.
Hundreds of Indians who came on leave got stranded in the country unable to return to the UAE due to travel ban.
A national ban on entry from India began in April as India faced a surge in coronavirus infections.
Earlier, permission to return was only given to persons under eight categories namely, citizens of UAE and their close relatives, diplomatic personnel of India, UAE and four other countries, State guests, participants and international partners of UAE Expo2020 with visas provided by the hosts, holders of UAE's silver/gold visas, airline employees, cargo workers and transit crew of foreign companies.
Who are eligible to return?
-Nurses, technical experts, doctors and other healthcare professionals
-Those associated with universities, colleges, schools and other educational institutions in UAE
-Students studying in UAE
-Residence visa holders deserving humanitarian consideration
-Persons employed with federal/local government agencies
