ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) have announced additional precautionary measures for arrivals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Uganda, and the Republic of South Sudan.
The measures are part of the UAE’s proactive and preventive efforts to strengthen national preparedness and respond to developments related to the Ebola virus.
The two authorities stated that the issuance of all new visas for nationals of the three countries, including visit visas, will be suspended as of 1:00 pm on June 6, 2026.
The decision is subject to extension, while cargo flights between the UAE and the three countries will continue as normal.
The authorities also announced that travellers arriving from the listed countries will be denied entry to the UAE.
This includes travellers entering the UAE via transit through one or more other countries, unless they have spent more than 21 days outside the listed countries before arriving in the UAE.
Transit flight operations will not be affected by these measures.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security reaffirmed that they will continue to monitor developments related to the Ebola virus in coordination with local and international partners.
They will also assess its impact on any other countries and take the necessary measures in line with risk assessments and approved health standards.
Earlier this week, The Ministry of Health and Prevention had confirmed that there were currently no cases of Ebola in the UAE and the country continues to maintain advanced levels of health preparedness.
The relevant authorities continue to monitor global health developments and maintain the highest levels of preparedness and health surveillance, a statement said.
The Ministry explained that the relevant authorities in the UAE continue to coordinate closely with the World Health Organisation and the relevant international health authorities regarding a traveller who had visited the UAE and was later confirmed to have Ebola after departing the country and arriving in Uganda several days later.
The Ministry further confirmed that the individual did not visit any healthcare facility in the UAE during his stay in the country.
The relevant authorities had already activated the necessary public health measures, including risk assessment, contact tracing, and approved precautionary procedures, in accordance with national procedures and relevant international standards.
No cases have been recorded in the UAE.
Meanwhile, WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention launched a June-November $518 million joint plan to tackle the Ebola outbreak.
"The plan focuses on core areas: emergency coordination, surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, and community engagement," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in DR Congo had increased to 381, according to government data on June 4.
yousuf.saifuddin@admn.ae