Is Dubai Open to Travelling Now?

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world extremely hard; it disrupted businesses, impacted the global economy, and put a lot of restrictions when it came to travelling. More than a year down the line, the pandemic still exists but the world has accepted it as the “new normal” and has been working to restore natural order while remaining cautious and taking all necessary precautions.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), unlike many other countries, managed to hold off the pandemic when it came to impacting the local economy badly. Although things such as Dubai Expo 2020 and other prominent events were delayed, UAE authorities found various ways to overcome the obstacles which came with the pandemic itself.

Dubai is a place of business and has seen a lot of investment being poured in. This meant that foreign investors had to travel to Dubai frequently as well. However, with the pandemic, most people are not aware of the latest updates when it comes to travelling to Dubai.

Here at Rizmona, we have compiled a complete guide which details everything from the documents required to travel, COVID-19 test reports, quarantine period, and much more.

Dubai Quarantine Rules

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) required residents and visitors who have come into close contact with COVID-19 patients in Dubai to undergo a 10-day home quarantine — even if said residents and visitors did not develop any symptoms.

‘Close contact’ is defined as people who have been within two meters of a confirmed active case for more than 15 minutes. The 10-day isolation period should commence on the day in which close contact was established. Should symptoms develop during the isolation period, a COVID-19 test must be taken to ascertain their health status.

DHA has also elaborated on a shortened isolation period for certain categories of COVID cases. The initial 14-day period is reduced to 10 days for cases that did not develop any symptoms since testing positive. This also applies to patients who have made a full recovery. Those who have been discharged must revisit the clinic should symptoms reappear within two weeks following their discharge.

Some arriving residents might be tested again on arrival at Dubai’s airport. If you are required to take another test on arrival, you must remain in quarantine at your residence until you receive the test result. If the test result is positive, you must stay in isolation and follow the instructions of the Dubai Health Authority. If the test result is negative, you do not need to quarantine yourself.

Which Airlines are Travelling to Dubai?

A search through Wego showed that there are currently numerous international flight schedules in operation to and from Dubai.

The UAE government has announced that starting August 30, visitors from all countries with visit visas are allowed to enter the UAE, including travellers from the banned list: Bangladesh, Congo, India, Liberia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.

Earlier this year, the UAE has banned a number of countries from entering the emirates as well as suspending flights. Travellers from Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh and more were put in a limbo of changing rules and tightening restrictions for months.

Starting in July and August, there have been incremental steps to loosen restrictions. Vaccinated travellers of UAE residence visas were among the first major country ban exemption and now we expect more travellers to be able to travel to the UAE.

Can I Travel to Dubai Now?

In a word, yes. To find out whether you’re eligible to visit Dubai, please continue to read through the article to learn more about the prerequisites and other requirements of visiting Dubai.

Requirements for all travellers to Dubai

For both returning residents and visiting tourists, the following applies:

All passengers travelling to Dubai from any point of origin (GCC countries included) must hold a negative COVID 19 RT‑PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure, except for travel from Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Indonesia. More on this below.

The certificate must be a Reverse transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction (RT‑PCR) test. Other test certificates including antibody tests, NHS COVID Test certificates, Rapid PCR tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai. Travellers must bring an official, digital or printed certificate in English or Arabic to check-in – SMS certificates are not accepted. PCR certificates in other languages are acceptable if they can be validated at the originating station. Digital COVID‑19 certificates are accepted upon arrival at Dubai International airport verification points.

COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test certificates must be issued by an authorised facility in the passenger’s departure country. Certificates that have already been presented for travel to another destination can’t be used for re‑entry even if they are still within the validity period.

For passengers arriving from the following countries, it is mandatory that the COVID‑19 RT‑PCR report includes a QR code linked to the original report for verification purposes. The QR code must be presented at check‑in and to representatives of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) upon arrival in Dubai airports: Sudan, Lebanon, Egypt and Ethiopia.

Indian Nationals with a normal passport who are travelling to India via Dubai can obtain a visa on arrival in Dubai for a maximum stay of 14 days provided they:

• have a visitor visa or a green card issued by the United States, or
• a residence visa issued by the United Kingdom or European Union

The visa issued by United States, United Kingdom or Europe union has to be valid for a minimum of 6 months.

For Dubai residents

• UAE Residence Visa holders must have GDRFA or ICA approval to enter the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This does not apply to passengers who have other visas, such as a newly issued residence or employment visas, short stay or long stay visas, visit visas or visas on arrival.
• Passengers arriving from the countries above must present a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate with a QR code issued within 48 hours of the time the sample was collected at an approved health facility.
• Passengers must also present a Rapid PCR test report with a QR code for a test conducted at the departure airport within six hours of departure.

Passengers travelling from other countries must have a negative COVID‑19 RT PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.

For passengers travelling to Dubai as their final destination from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Zambia and Indonesia travel is currently not possible as there are no rapid PCR testing facilities at the airport.

Vaccine requirements for returning residents

As per the Emirates Airline travel requirements page, a COVID-19 vaccination certificate is no longer stated as a requirement for entry into Dubai for returning residents.

Testing requirements for returning residents

Passengers arriving in Dubai from the following countries will be required to take another COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International airport:

Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Austria, 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, Maldives, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Somaliland, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe.

Exemptions to the testing requirement apply to the following categories of travellers:

• UAE nationals are exempt from taking a COVID‑19 PCR test before departing for Dubai. They must be tested on arrival in Dubai, irrespective if they are holding a valid negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR certificate from the point of origin.
  This is also applicable for:
  • Passengers accompanying the 1st degree UAE nationals’ relative or domestic workers
  • Domestic workers escorting a UAE national sponsor during travel.
• Children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability are exempt from taking a COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test.
  • Moderate or severe disability includes neurological disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities. For example Acute spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Ataxia, Autism spectrum, Bell’s palsy, Brain tumours, Cerebral aneurysm, Cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy and seizures
  • All other passengers, including those who are visually impaired, hearing impaired or physically challenged must hold a negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test certificate as per the requirements.
• There may be specific test exemptions in your country of origin and final destination. Please check the requirements before you travel.

For tourists

Prior approval is not required

Note that tourists are not required to obtain both the GDRFA or ICA approval when travelling to Dubai. However, tourists travelling from Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Indonesia, must comply with the following:

• Tourists must present a valid negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate with a QR code issued within 48 hours of the time the sample was collected from an approved health facility
• Tourists must present a rapid PCR test report with a QR code for a test conducted at the departure airport within six hours of departure

For passengers travelling to Dubai as their final destination from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Zambia and Indonesia, travel is currently not possible as there are no rapid PCR testing facilities at the airport.

Prior to departure, please check if you need a visa. Depending on your nationality you can get a visa on arrival, or you can apply for your prearranged visit visa from Dubai Immigration before you travel.

Vaccine requirements for visiting tourists

As per the Emirates Airline travel requirements page, a COVID-19 vaccination certificate is not among the requirements for entry into Dubai for visiting tourists.

Testing requirements for visiting tourists

Tourists arriving in Dubai from the following countries will be required to take another COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International airport:

Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Austria, 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, Maldives, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Somaliland, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe.

Exemptions to the testing requirement apply to the following categories of travellers:

• UAE nationals are exempt from taking a COVID‑19 PCR test before departing for Dubai. They must be tested on arrival in Dubai, irrespective if they are holding a valid negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR certificate from the point of origin. This is also applicable for:
  • Passengers accompanying the 1st degree UAE nationals’ relative or domestic workers
  • Domestic workers escorting a UAE national sponsor during travel.
• Children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability are exempt from taking a COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test.
  • Moderate or severe disability includes neurological disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities. For example Acute spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Ataxia, Autism spectrum, Bell’s palsy, Brain tumours, Cerebral aneurysm, Cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy and seizures
  • All other passengers, including those who are visually impaired, hearing impaired or physically challenged must hold a negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test certificate as per the requirements.
• There may be specific test exemptions in your country of origin and final destination. Please check the requirements before you travel.

For transit passengers

All transit passengers must complete all the requirements of their final destination.

Transit passengers from Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, and Indonesia must present a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.

All other transit passengers are not required to present this certificate unless it is mandated by their final destination.

Rules for travel from the United Kingdom

All passengers travelling to Dubai from the UK must hold a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure and the certificate must be a Reverse transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction (RT‑PCR) test. Note that NHS Covid Test certificates are not accepted for travel from the United Kingdom.

UAE Nationals travelling to Dubai are exempted from COVID‑19 testing requirements prior to departure but will be subject to a COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

COVID‑19 testing laboratories

• The UAE government has specified designated laboratories. You can either use the recommended laboratories in the list or any trusted and certified laboratories in your country of origin to get your COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test.
• If you are flying from India, Pakistan, Nigeria or Bangladesh, you must get your certificate from one of the labs listed in the designated laboratories to document to be accepted on the flight.

Upon arrival

• You may need to take another COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival. If you take a test at the airport, you must remain in your hotel or residence until you receive the test result.
• If the test result is positive, you will be required to undergo isolation and follow the Dubai Health Authority guidelines.
• You must also download the COVID19 – DXB Smart App for both iOS and Android.

Is it Safe to Travel to Dubai?

At the onset of the pandemic, the UAE took a blended civil-military approach in its plight to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. The approach was initially enabled by a 24-hour a day government restriction on movement, except for those with an exemption granted by a government permit. Currently, no curfew is in effect.

The country’s vaccination drive has also been swiftly implemented with at least 18,158,991 doses of COVID vaccines being administered so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 92.9 percent of the country’s population.

The combination of strict measures, high vaccination rate, and the country’s favourable attitude toward tech and science has seen the UAE lauded by health experts as one of the countries to look up to in terms of their pandemic handling.

Which Things are Open in Dubai?

As a travel destination, Dubai is indeed open to visitors worldwide. Dubai on May 17 also lifted its limited-capacity rules for hotels, meaning they can be booked to 100%. Mask-wearing is compulsory, as is keeping a two-meter social distance. Outside, you must wear a mask unless exercising, eating or drinking, in a car with your family or if you’re alone.