DUBAI: All inbound flights and transit passengers from the Republic of Congo will be banned from entering the UAE from Friday at 8.00 a.m. The ban will also affect travelers who had been in the Central African country 14 days before coming to the UAE. Flights to the Republic of Congo will continue to operate to transport passengers from the UAE to the country. UAE nationals, their first-degree relatives, domestic workers under their sponsorship, diplomatic missions, official delegations and golden residence holders are excluded from this decision. The excluded categories should present a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 48 hours of departure and a rapid-PCR test at the airport within six hours of departure whenever possible and another PCR test at the airport on arrival to UAE. A 10-day quarantine period and a PCR test on the ninth day of entering the country is required for UAE nationals, diplomatic missions and golden residence holders. The two authorities also confirmed that it is required for those coming from Congo through other countries to stay in those countries for at least 14 days before being allowed to enter the UAE. Those coming from the Congo through other countries are required to stay in those countries for at least 14 days before being allowed to enter the UAE. UAE citizens are prohibited from traveling to the Congo except for official delegations, those seeking emergency treatment, and scholarship recipients. Meanwhile, those arriving on direct flights from Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia are required to present a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 48 hours and a rapid-PCR test at the airport within six hours of departure. Those coming from these four countries to the UAE on transit flights are required to present a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 48 hours and a rapid-PCR test at the airport of their main point of departure within six hours of traveling in addition to another rapid PCR test at the transit airport before being allowed to enter the UAE. All travelers affected by the decision should communicate with their airline to amend and reschedule their flights.