No more RT-PCR test at airport for UAE-bound passengers
Passengers bound for the United Arab Emirates will no longer need to have the mandatory RT-PCR test for Covid-19 at the airport six hours before their flight as the Middle-Eastern country scrapped the requirement for some countries including Bangladesh.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) yesterday issued a notice in this regard, effective immediately.
Dubai Airport issued an advisory on Tuesday with the new rules for passengers from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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The new rules now require passengers from these countries to produce a negative COVID-19 test certificate taken up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the flight, from an approved health service provider. Passengers will be required to undergo a PCR test upon their arrival in Dubai.
Earlier, the UAE bound passengers were required to do two RT-PCR tests. One was a maximum of six hours before the flight at Dhaka airport and another at other designated centres 48 hours before the scheduled flight.
Dr Shahriar Sajjad, assistant health officer at HSIA, told TBS that the UAE authority has relaxed the condition for mandatory RT-PCR test six hours before a flight from some countries including Bangladesh. That's why the CAAB has also implemented it at the airports with effect from Tuesday.
Around 12 lakh Bangladeshi workers are employed in the UAE, according to an unofficial estimate.
Dubai on Tuesday removed restrictions that required travellers from some countries to undergo rapid RT-PCR at airports before departing for the UAE.
