The UAE on Friday suspended inbound flights from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini over the spread of COVID-19 variants.

A new coronavirus variant has been detected in South Africa and scientists are concerned because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread

South Africa has seen a dramatic rise in new infections, the country’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla said at an online press briefing.

“Over the last four or five days, there has been more of an exponential rise,” he said, adding that the spike has been due to the new variant.

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UAE announced a ban on incoming flights from 7 South African nations

UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, the Supreme Council for National Security and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority announced a ban on inbound flights from South Africa in order to contain the spread of the the new variant

#عاجل_وام #الإمارات تعلن تعليق دخول القادمين من #جنوب_أفريقيا و #ناميبيا و #ليسوتو و #إسواتيني و #زيمبابوي و #بوتسوانا و #موزمبيق اعتباراً من 29 نوفمبر الجاري. pic.twitter.com/9YIen5jvdd

— وكالة أنباء الإمارات (@wamnews) November 26, 2021

Emirates bans flights from 7 South African nations

The travel ban will take effect from Monday, November 29. Following the new ban, Emirates has suspended inbound passenger flights from seven South African nations. The airline’s website also mentioned that travellers from or transiting through any of these 7 countries will not be permitted to enter Dubai. However, outbound flights from Dubai to these countries will operate as per scheudle.