Amid the rising number of Omicron cases, countries worldwide have enforced new guidelines and travel restrictions.
The new strain named Omicron- initially known as B.1.1.529 – has triggered a surge in cases, including in South Africa, the UK, India, and other countries.
As the World Health Organisation declared Omicron a coronavirus variant of concern, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have also taken stringent measures to curtail the spread of the variant by imposing travel restrictions.
UAE
From November 29, the UAE had suspended entry for travellers and transit passengers from seven countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) said the entry suspension applies to travellers in these countries 14 days before coming to the UAE.
Citizens of the UAE, members of diplomatic missions, official delegations and those with golden residence visas are excluded from the new rules.
According to the latest updates from NCEMA, the Ministry of Health conducted 307,646 tests as part of its plans to expand the scope of the tests and revealed 48 new Coronavirus cases with 70 recoveries and 1 death case due to complications.
Bahrain
Bahrain banned the entry of travellers from South Africa and several other African nations following the new coronavirus variant.
The state news agency BNA reported that South Africa was initially joined on the ban list by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini. Following this, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, and Zambia passengers were also prohibited from entering Bahrain.
Bahraini citizens and residency visa holders are excluded from the ban.
Kuwait
Following a Cabinet decision, Kuwait has suspended direct flights from nine African countries from November 28.
The countries are South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia and Malawi.
Oman
The Sultanate of Oman decided on November 27 to suspend entry for arrivals from seven African countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.
Qatar
Qatar Airways on November 27 said it had banned entry to travellers from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health updated its list of exceptional red list countries, under which entry to unvaccinated passengers is barred in response to the new variant.
South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho are added to the list.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, on November 26, suspended flights to and from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.
While, the foreign citizens from these seven countries are allowed to enter the kingdom if they had spent the previous 14 days in another country and comply with Saudi Arabia’s health protocols.
However, on November 27, the kingdom updated their rules, saying it will allow entry to travellers “from all countries” as long as they have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine inside Saudi Arabia.
Following this, on November 29, the Ministry of Interior confirmed the suspension of flights to and from another seven countries; Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros.
So far, travellers from India are allowed to enter the GCC countries, complying with the protocols of each country.
