The United Arab Emirates has announced that it will ban citizens who have not had three doses of a vaccine against Covid-19 from travelling abroad.
Officials said the exit ban, which comes into force on 10 January, would not apply to those who are medically exempt from receiving the vaccine.
It is the latest country to announce new curbs amid a rise in infections.
Many countries impose strict restrictions on unvaccinated people before they are allowed in.
This varies from a requirement for a negative Covid test before travel to mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
More than 90% of the population in the UAE has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. About 34% had received the booster jab as of 24 December, according to Our World in Data.
Studies have found that a booster shot offers better protection against the heavily-mutated Omicron variant. , which has been spreading rapidly in countries around the world.
The new travel rules in the UAE were announced by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They were devised to "ensure that health and safety are prioritised", the Emirates News Agency reported.
They said the ban on unvaccinated passengers would also be lifted in "humanitarian cases" and in cases where people were travelling for medical treatment.
Foreign workers make up the vast majority of the resident population in the Gulf state and will not be affected by the new restrictions, which only apply to citizens.
The UAE has reported over 750,000 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began, and more than 2,000 deaths.
Latest Stories
-
South Africa bursary scandal suspects granted bail
8 mins -
Ecobank successfully repays $500m Eurobond due April 18
12 mins -
Re: Doe Adjaho, Torgbui Samlafo IV, call for Unity among Paramountcies in Anlo
15 mins -
Extortion and kidnap – a deadly journey across Mexico into the US
18 mins -
Rihanna says fashion has helped her personal ‘rediscovery’ after having children
35 mins -
Development Bank Ghana targets GH¢1bn funding for commercial banks in 2024
54 mins -
Shatta Movement apologises to Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled after backlash
1 hour -
Sammy Gyamfi writes: Tema-Mpakadan Railway Project; A railway line to nowhere
2 hours -
Bright Simons: Is the World Bank saving or harming Ghana?
2 hours -
CAF Cup: RS Berkane banned from entering Algeria because of a map of Morocco with its Sahara
3 hours -
The media isn’t doing what is expected of journalism – Sulemana Braimah
3 hours -
Truck driver who caused train accident jailed 6 months
3 hours -
Music review: Okyeame Kwame proves rap dexterity on ‘No Competition’
3 hours -
How a 23-year-old fooled the internet with an AI Kendrick Lamar diss track
3 hours -
No man should be intimidated by the strength of a woman – Charlotte Oduro
3 hours