Covid Omicron variant: Step-by-step guide for UAE-Philippines travel

The UAE is home to one of the largest Filipino communities in the world, which makes it a very busy travel route between the countries.

The Philippines has been strictly implementing rules for international travel after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. On November 27, the Philippines announced the suspension of flights from seven countries – South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique – till December 15 after Omicron was detected in the African countries.

Also read:

• Covid-19: Philippines introduces new travel ban to prevent Omicron spread

• Covid-19 new variant: Philippines to relax ban on visitors

Manila has been easing virus restrictions of late, as the daily Covid-19 cases hover at the lowest level since the beginning of the year. About one-third of the country's 110 million population are now fully vaccinated.

Manila lifted the coronavirus ban on travellers from the UAE in early September.

In November 2021, the Southeast Asian country added the UAE to its “green list” which means fully vaccinated passengers will not have to undergo facility-based quarantine if they have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result with a validity of less than 72 hours before departure.

On December 3, however, it implemented new quarantine and testing requirements amid the Omicron threat.

Below is a step-by-step guide for travellers from UAE to the Philippines:

-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com

• Philippines