Fully vaccinated Emiratis can travel to 12 previously banned African countries

Citizens with two vaccine doses and a booster can now travel to a number of destinations

The Drakensberg escarpment in Lesotho. Flight arrivals can resume from the country on January 29, UAE authorities said. Photo: Jandre van der Walt/ Unsplash

Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, one of the 12 African nations where passenger flights to the UAE will restart. Photo: Tanner Marquis/ Unsplash

The central business district in Gaborone, Botswana. Flights can resume from Botswana, Congo Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, authorities said. Photo: Justice Hubane/ Unsplash

Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Passengers travelling from the 12 countries will be required to take a PCR test 48 hours before departure. Photo: Sergey Pesterev/ Unsplash

Mbabane, capital of Eswatini. Photo: Lungelo S Mthupha/ Unsplash

Lagos, in Nigeria. Photo: Nupo Deyon Daniel/ Unsplash

Sesriem, Namibia. Photo: Arne Smith/ Unsplash

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Photo: Peter Mitchell/ Unsplash

Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Tobias Reich/ Unsplash

Salt flats, Danikil Depression, Ethiopia. Photo: Lesly Derksen/ Unsplash

Maputo, Mozambique. Photo: Rohan Reddy/ Unsplash

Street performers in Brazzaville, Congo Republic. Photo: Valdhy Mbemba/ Unsplash

A ban on travel for fully vaccinated Emiratis to a number of African countries will be lifted from 6pm on February 6.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority announced those who have received both doses of a vaccine and a booster shot will be able to travel to the destinations from this date.

The 12 African countries are Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Congo, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The following groups can now travel to the countries:

*Citizens who have received the full doses of approved Covid-19 vaccines in addition to the booster dose

*Unvaccinated citizens who are medically exempt from receiving the vaccine

*Humanitarian cases and those travelling for treatment

Authorities urged all citizens planning to travel to abide by all precautionary measures and follow health guidelines, including social distancing, the wearing of face masks and regular handwashing.

Restrictions were placed on travel to the African countries in November and December following the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The UAE lifted Covid-19 restrictions on arrivals from those destinations on Saturday, January 29.

Entry procedures were also updated for flights originating from Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda.

Passengers flying from the 12 countries to the Emirates are required to take a PCR test 48 hours before departure, test where possible at the departure airport, test on arrival and follow all precautionary measures when visiting the UAE.