COVID-19 travel: Passengers from Indonesia can now enter UAE

Dubai: Passengers from Indonesia can now visit the UAE under the Safe Travel Corridor Arrangement (STCA) between the two countries, authorities have clarified.

STCA is an official agreement between Indonesia and the UAE to facilitate travel between the two countries for essential business and commercial, economic, diplomatic and official purposes.

The Indonesian Consulate in Dubai confirmed to Gulf News on Thursday that travel between Indonesia and the UAE under the STCA programme is currently on after a temporary suspension earlier.

Meanwhile, Dubai airline flydubai has also updated its travel advisory regarding Indonesian passengers. As Gulf News reported on Tuesday, the airline’s website had earlier stated that the UAE was no longer allowing entry to nationals of Indonesia travelling under the Safe Travel Corridor programme.

However, the latest COVID-19 travel requirement update, which was done on Wednesday, has removed this from the site.

In a statement to Gulf News on Thursday, a flydubai spokesperson said the airline continues to update its website with the latest travel restrictions as and when they are lifted. “We encourage our passengers to keep up to date with the last regulations from official sources such as the IATA Travel Centre so that they are prepared for their whole journey,” the statement added.

Temporary suspension lifted in February

Candra Negara, the Indonesian Consul General to Dubai and Northern Emirates, clarified that a temporary suspension of STCA was lifted in February.

He said that Indonesians can enter the UAE if they are following the applicable health protocol.

“Indonesians have been travelling to Dubai with ease since the country’s border reopening in July 2020 for international visitors up until today,” he said in a statement to Gulf News on Thursday.

UAE-based airlines Emirates and Etihad operated commercial flights to and from Indonesia in limited numbers since Indonesia’s borders are still closed for foreigners, except for those who are travelling under STCA, the top diplomat clarified.

Concerted effort

The STCA has facilitated business travellers and diplomatic or service passport holders from both countries to travel regardless of border closure.

“This is a concerted effort made by our two governments in managing social and economic impact of the pandemic.”

He said the agreement was entered into on July 29, 2020, but its implementation was suspended temporarily until January 2021.

“Then it was reactivated in February 2021. In late February and early March 2021, delegations of the two countries have been using this facility in a series of activities to increase economic cooperation,” the consul general explained.