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India to request UAE to end mandatory PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers

As per the current rule, travellers have to take a rapid PCR test six hours before their departure from any Indian airport

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India's Ministry of Home Affairs held a meeting on Monday to discuss the removal of mandatory rapid PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers going to countries in the Middle East, especially the UAE.

A senior official confirmed that the meeting was held to stop compulsory PCR test for those going to UAE.

“We have requested Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with UAE government to exempt fully vaccinated travellers to undergo mandatory Rapid PCR test that cost around Rs4,000,” said the official.

As per the rule, travellers have to take a rapid PCR test six hours before their departure from any Indian airport.

The UAE has made this test mandatory for passengers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Uganda.

Faisal Rafiq, a traveller to UAE said that the compulsory testing has extended their travel time and exposed them to the crowd at the sample collection centre at the airport and then waiting for the result.

“It is an expensive test for workers who are already suffering due to slow down after Covid-19 and somehow going back to resume job. I will be happy if the UAE government ends this test for vaccinated people,” said Rafiq.

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Another traveller Shobit Nandy said that even after the one expensive test at Delhi airport, the UAE government again tested them as per the rule and in some cases, they have to undergo quarantine. There should be some relaxation for fully vaccinated people, Nandy said.

The UK has already ended the mandatory 10 days quarantine on arrival for fully vaccinated Indian travellers.

• coronavirus
• UAE
• India