UAE embassy says 'attestation' of vaccination certificates not mandatory for Pakistani travelers

A Pakistani national checks in at the Dubai International Airport before leaving the Gulf Emirate on a flight back to his country, on May 7, 2020. (AFP/File)
A Pakistani national checks in at the Dubai International Airport before leaving the Gulf Emirate on a flight back to his country, on May 7, 2020. (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 July 2021
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UAE embassy says 'attestation' of vaccination certificates not mandatory for Pakistani travelers

UAE embassy says 'attestation' of vaccination certificates not mandatory for Pakistani travelers
  • The United Arab Emirates imposed travel restriction on Pakistan and three other nations in May, though Pakistani officials expressed hope it would review the decision
  • The UAE is Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and home to more than 1.6 million Pakistani nationals

ISLAMABAD: Passengers from Pakistan are not required to get their coronavirus vaccine certificates attested by the diplomatic mission of the United Arab Emirates before flying to the Gulf state, clarified the UAE authorities on Thursday.

Earlier, local publications reported that the Arab country had made it mandatory for travelers from Pakistan to carry attested COVID-19 vaccine certificates.

However, the UAE embassy clarified in a Twitter post there was no such travel requirement currently.

The UAE imposed restrictions on travelers from four countries, including Pakistan, on May 12.

However, the foreign office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri expressed hope last month that the Arab country would review its decision since the COVID-19 situation was gradually improving in Pakistan.

In recent months, Pakistan has ramped up its vaccination program and administered over 21 million doses since the beginning of the nationwide inoculation campaign.

The UAE is Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and home to more than 1.6 million Pakistani nationals.

Pakistan has also increased the capacity of inbound international flights by 50 percent from today to facilitate overseas Pakistanis ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid Al-Adha next week.