No restrictions on Expo ’20 participants entering UAE
The authorities said that apart from Expo 2020 participants and exhibitors, there are seven other categories of people who are exempted from a travel ban
The UAE aviation authorities said on Thursday that Expo 2020 related people would be allowed to enter the country despite the ban on entry from certain countries.
The GCAA, according to one circular that was issued, rendered the following category of persons originating from restricted countries eligible to enter the UAE, that is Expo 2020 international participants, Expo 2020 exhibitors and personnel sponsored by Expo 2020 organisers.
The current COVID-19 pandemic is causing the United Arab Emirates to issue new restrictions on flights and passengers, according to the GCAA.
The UAE government is closely monitoring the situation and will provide more information and clarifications when necessary.
The authorities said that apart from Expo 2020 participants and exhibitors, there are seven other categories of people who are exempted from a travel ban.
l Emiratis and their relatives l Golden Visa holders l Diplomatic mission staff l Official delegations ater obtaining prior approval from the UAE government.
l Cargo and transit flight crew of foreign companies holding a valid PCR test. PCR test is valid when it is showing a negative result and meets the required public health protocol. The test is performed within 48 hours before flight to the UAE.
l Businessmen and businesswomen, provided they hold an approval from the General Authority for the Security of Ports, Borders and Free Zones, and heads of higher commitees of the emergency, crisis and disaster management teams of the Emirate concerned.
l Persons with important functions according to the classification of the Federal Office of Personality and Citizenship.
The UAE authorities have approved the Covishield vaccine for Indian travellers.
The Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine is being sold in India under the brand name Covishield.
Following are the vaccines approved by the UAE:
l Sinopharm
l Sputnik V
l Astrazeneca (Covishield) l Pfizer-biontech
A report last year said Expo 2020 Dubai and its 190-plus participating countries have reaffirmed commitment to working together to achieve shared goals and making strong progress with preparations for the global event, which will begin on 1 October 2021.
Organisers, members of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Commitee and BIE representatives, plus participants, commercial partners and government officials from around the world will discuss updates on site operations, facilities management, Expo 2020’s events and programming calendar, and content related to marketing, communications and media services.
Expo 2020’s resilient response to the current global health crisis has enabled progress towards the next World Expo to continue unabated. Following the completion of Expo-led construction at the end of 2019, work this year has focused on landscaping the site and fiting out the Expoowned buildings. Preparations for the Country
Pavilions also continue at pace, underscoring the strong commitment that participants continue to show for the event.
Addressing the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “On behalf of the United Arab Emirates, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Expo 2020 International Participants Meeting. This year has brought challenges. Challenges to our hopes, our expectations, and our dreams. But it has also taught us many important lessons.
This year, we have been reminded that humankind cannot overcome adversity when we act alone, and that a burden becomes lighter when it is shared. Never before has our generation witnessed such a powerful display of human solidarity as we stand together side by side, against this pandemic and the pain it has caused across the world.”
Sheikh Abdullah also added: “Just as the challenges we face today are global in scale, our collective response stems from our belief in the shared destiny of humanity as a whole. What unites us is so much greater than what divides us.