Picture used for illustrative purposes only.

The UAE has halted all flights of international and local carriers coming from Indonesia and Afghanistan into the country from Sunday (July 11). The UAE has also barred Emiratis from travelling to these two countries.

However, the suspension does not apply to the country's diplomatic missions in these countries, cases dealing with emergency treatment, and official delegations, apart from scientific delegations which have already been approved.

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The announcement was made by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA).

The suspension includes inbound transit passengers but not transit flights coming to the UAE and heading to these countries.

This photo shows a general view of Sharjah International Airport. File photo

However, those coming from Indonesia and Afghanistan through other countries are allowed entry into the country, but the period of their stay in those countries should not be less than 14 days.

Cargo flights between these countries and the UAE will continue as usual.

The GCAA affirmed that the UAE nationals and their first-degree relatives, diplomatic missions between the UAE and the two countries, official delegations, businessmen – after getting prior approvals – and golden and silver residency permit holders and personnel of UAE embassies in the two countries and crews of foreign freight and transit planes, are excluded from this decision.

The excluded category should present a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 48 hours of departure, a mandatory 10-day quarantine and a PCR test at the airport and another test on the fourth and eighth days of entering the country.

According to the decision, the period of the required PCR test is reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours, provided the tests are issued by accredited laboratories and carrying the QR Code.