Due to the global outbreak of the Novel Corona Virus, the UAE health authorities are taking actions to prevent the spread of the disease and to protect the safety and well-being of the UAE citizens, residents, and visitors. Travelers from other countries to UAE are required to take a Covid-19 PCR test and must show the negative result before departure. And they are required to take a second PCR test and quarantine once they reached UAE. Passengers from certain countries are restricted from traveling to UAE.
Traveling to Abu Dhabi
Vaccinated passengers from international destinations who are traveling to Abu Dhabi are not required to quarantine if their final vaccination dose was taken at least 28 before traveling to Abu Dhabi. Passengers arriving from green list countries are not required to quarantine, regardless of their Covid-19 vaccination report. Recently, the United States is also included among the green list countries. Passengers who are not vaccinated and are not traveling from a green list country are required to 10 days quarantine upon their arrival in Abu Dhabi.
All passengers to Abu Dhabi are required to provide a negative PCR test result conducted within 48 hours before their departure and must take an additional test upon arrival in Abu Dhabi. And additionally, before departure, the guests should register for ICA approval by finishing the register arrivals form and uploading an international vaccination certificate. Then the visitors will receive an SMS with a link to download the Al Hosan app. As of 20 August 2021, only vaccinated citizens, residents, and tourists are allowed to enter some public places like restaurants, malls, and museums in Abu Dhabi. And before entering such public places they are required to show their testing and vaccination reports on the Al Hosan app. Passengers from other Emirates traveling by road to Abu Dhabi are not required to provide a negative Covid-19 test result at the border.
Traveling to Dubai
Passengers from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia are required to follow specific protocols while traveling to Dubai. Passengers from these countries must provide:
- A valid Covid-19 PCR test result with a QR code for tests conducted within 48 hours before departure. And such certificates must be from an approved health authority.
- A rapid PCR test report with QR code for a test conducted from the leaving airport within 6 hours of departure.
- All passengers traveling to Dubai from any other countries including GCC countries must provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test result for a test taken not more than 72 hours before departure. But this rule does not apply to the countries mentioned above. For more clarification on this regard, seek the counsel of international law firms in Dubai.
The report must be a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) test. However, test results such as antibody tests, NHS COVID Test certificates, Rapid PCR tests, and home testing kits are not acceptable in Dubai International Airport. Passengers must carry officially printed or digital certificates which must be in English or Arabic. SMS reports are not accepted in Dubai. PCR certificates in other languages are acceptable only if they are validated at the originating airport. COVID19 RTPCR test results must be issued by an authorized health authority in the passenger's departure country. Certificates that are already produced for travel to other countries cannot be used for re-entry even though they are still within the valid period. Passengers from Indonesia, Sudan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Ethiopia must provide QR codes at check-in and to representatives of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) upon arrival at Dubai International airport.
Test on arrival in Dubai
Passengers arriving from the following countries are required to take an additional COVID19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International airport: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Poland, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Somaliland, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Test exemptions
UAE citizens are exempted from taking a COVID19 PCR test before departing for Dubai. However, they have to be tested on arrival in Dubai, disregardless if they carry a valid negative COVID19 RTPCR certificate from the purpose of origin. This is often applicable for passengers attendant to the first degree UAE citizens' relative or domestic staff and domestic staff escorting a UAE citizen sponsor throughout travel. Youngsters underneath the age of twelve and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability are exempted from taking a COVID19 RTPCR test. All other passengers, who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, or physically challenged must carry a valid negative COVID19 RTPCR test certificate as per the necessities.