Italy has dropped quarantine requirements for passengers travelling for essential purposes on certain flights from the UAE.
The Mediterranean country is allowing passengers from a small number of destinations to enter without self-isolating, providing they can prove they are virus free.
To do so they must board a “Covid-tested flight”, for which all passengers must provide a certificate showing they screened negative within 48 hours of their trip. They must take another rapid test on arrival.
If that is also negative they may enter the country without having to self-isolate.
They do not have to be immunised against the virus.
Japan and Canada have been granted the same allowance.
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Essential purposes includes business-related travel, medical treatment, visits by Italian resident permit holders, or to study – but not for tourism.
Airlines wishing to run Covid-tested flights must inform the Italian Ministry of Health of their intention to do so first.
All passengers on these flights must meet these requirements.
A spokeswoman for the Italian embassy said the UAE was added in recognition of the country’s successful handling of the pandemic.
“This measure is a recognition of the high performance showed by the Emirates in dealing with the pandemic, as confirmed by the data on the number of PCR tests related to the population, the percentage of vaccinated people and the fatality rate, which rank the UAE among the leading countries at global level,” the embassy said.
“Interested airlines can therefore notify the Italian Ministry of Health of their intention to implement the protocol, which includes the airports of Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Napoli and Venice.
“The protocol applies to both vaccinated and non-vaccinated passengers who are travelling for essential purposes, pending the adoption of further measures at EU or national level aimed at the resumption of tourism travels from non-EU countries.”
Travellers from the EU currently have to self-isolate for five days, while those outside the area must quarantine for 10 days.
Latest travel deal for the Emirates
The deal with Italy is the latest effort to ease international travel restrictions for UAE passengers recently.
Safe travel corridors were set up with Bahrain, Serbia, Greece and the Seychelles this month.
The agreements allow for vaccinated passengers to travel between both destinations without the need to quarantine on arrival.
All travellers must continue to abide by other Covid-19 precautions while travelling and at their destination.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
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iPhone XS Max
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Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
