UAE Travel Update: Etihad brings back stranded residents from India, see how they got ICA approval

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has brought back hundreds of Indians stranded residents.

The residents were stranded in India due to the suspension of flights between UAE and India with the emergence of Delta variants.

Etihad on Saturday said that the airline operated services from New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi.

Abu Dhabi airport saw emotional scenes of family reunion and crying individuals making their way out of the airport after completing the procedures.

Some of the residents have been stuck in India for more than 4-5 months.

Passengers wait near the baggage carousel at the Abu Dhabi Airport. File

The authorities have also urged residents to seek the ICA and GDRFA approvals before booking a flight to the UAE.

The authorities said that anyone who will arrive without the ICA approval will not be allowed to enter the country.

A resident must visit the ICA website to fill in passport details, vaccine information, and PCR test results.

The ICA webpage for seeking approval:

https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/registerArrivals

It is believed that residents who applied for the ICA approval with all the necessary documents were immediately approved by the ICA with a green tick to travel to the UAE.    

The UAE authorities have issued a list of requirements for passengers.

The authorities said holders of valid residency who received full vaccination in the UAE and 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose and carrying vaccination certificates approved by the official authorities in the country will be allowed to enter from those countries.

All of these categories are required to submit a request on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to obtain the necessary approval. Vaccination certificates approved by authorities in the country should be attached.

A quick PCR test before boarding the plane will apply, in addition to applying the precautionary and preventive measures upon arrival, including quarantine and a PCR test.

Transit passengers from all countries from which transit passengers were previously suspended will be allowed to resume their travel, provided the traveller’s last destination accepts entry with a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the time of departure.

The country’s airports have allocated special lounges for transit passengers while taking all precautionary and preventive measures.

Etihad said from Aug.10, the airline will begin flights from three additional Indian cities for travel to the UAE, as well as from three Pakistani cities, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for transit passengers to access Etihad’s global network of destinations.

From Aug.10, flights will be added from Ahmedabad (for transit only), Hyderabad and Mumbai in India, and Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. Etihad will also operate flights from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.