COVID-19: All you need to know about Dubai travel guidelines for expats, tourists and citizens

Dubai: Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management has announced detailed guidelines for travellers using Dubai’s international airport, as travel restrictions ease.

• From today, June 22, UAE residence visa holders who have been stranded outside the country will be allowed to return to the UAE, in accordance with measures implemented to prevent spread of the virus.

• From tomorrow, June 23, people will be allowed to travel out of the UAE to destinations that have started to receive flights, in accordance with protocols put in place by their governments.

• From July 7, Dubai expects to welcome international tourists.

General guidelines

In general, these are the guidelines that need to be followed, regardless of which category of travellers you fall under:

• Citizens and residents are allowed to travel to any foreign destination, according to measures taken by the respective countries regarding foreign arrivals.

• Travellers bear full responsibility for their actions and for checking the COVID-19 situation of the country they wish to visit, as well as self-monitoring any symptoms they may experience.

• All citizens and residents will have to undergo a PCR test (Polymerase chain reaction test, which is the COVID-19 test accepted by health authorities) upon arrival at Dubai airports.

• Tourists are given the option to show their PCR test results (valid for 96 hours) upon their arrival in Dubai or carry out a test at Dubai airports. On July 8, Emirates airlines updated the requirement for passengers from the certain countries, who would need to carry a COVID-19 negative certificate issued by a local government approved laboratory to be accepted on the flight. Where specified, a certificate from a UAE government designated laboratory in the country of origin is also acceptable. These countries are:

1. Afghanistan

2. Bangladesh

3. Egypt

4. India

5. Iran

6. Pakistan

7. Philippines

8. Russian Federation

9. Tanzania

10. USA - Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO), including passengers originating from California, Florida and Texas connecting to an Emirates flight to Dubai.

• All positive COVID-19 cases will be quarantined for 14 days, with travellers bearing the cost of treatment and isolation.

These are some basic responsibilities that any traveller needs to be aware of:

• Adhere to all official measures and requirements established by the Dubai Government and other countries before travelling and after returning to Dubai.

• Disclose any symptoms before travelling by filling in the form provided by airlines.

• Ensure you have international health insurance coverage before travelling.

• Citizens must notify UAE embassies if they are infected with COVID-19 while they are abroad.

• Residents and tourists will bear the costs of examination and treatment abroad, in the event they are infected with COVID-19.

• Take precautionary measures and self-monitor for any symptoms of COVID-19.

Guidelines for Dubai residents, returning from June 22

• Return approvals are carried out by Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs through a direct link with airlines.

• PCR tests are conducted at Dubai airports.

• 14-day quarantine mandatory for all positive COVID-19 cases.

Procedures to follow

• Pre-book flights through official websites of airlines operating from Dubai airports.

• Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs organises the arrival of residents.

• Returning residents can fly on any of the airlines that have approved flights to Dubai airports.

• Residents must sign a declaration, stating their commitment to bear the costs of examination and treatment in the event of contracting COVID-19.

• Those arriving in Dubai must complete a Health Declaration Form before leaving their destination to ensure that they are clear of any symptoms.

• All passengers arriving must register their details on the COVID-19 DXB app.

Travel procedures from country of departure

• No PCR test required before departure.

• Fill out the Health Declaration Form before departure and sign the costs declaration.

• Airlines have the right to reject travellers if they display any symptoms of COVID-19.

Procedures for leaving the airport

• Residents must stay home until their PCR test results come out.

• Obligation to abide by 14-day quarantine for positive COVID-19 cases.

• Home quarantine possible if the conditions of quarantine are met, according to official guidelines from the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre.

• Residents who test positive for COVID-19 and are home-sharing or living in high-density housing, will be required to be isolated at a facility. Their employer should provide the quarantine facility in accordance with COVID-19 Command and Control Centre guidelines or choose a quarantine facility provided by the government in return for bearing the costs involved.

• Compliance with all precautionary measures applied in Dubai (wearing masks, maintaining two-metre social distance and washing hands regularly).

Arrival procedures at Dubai Airport

• PCR test taken upon arrival at Dubai airports.

• Ensure all passengers upon arrival download COVID-19 DXB app

If returning resident tests positive for COVID-19

Strict compliance with the procedures set out for positive cases by the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, including institutional quarantine, home quarantine or hospitalisation.

Guidelines for citizens and Dubai residents travelling abroad from June 23

• Citizens and residents allowed to travel to foreign destinations, according to Dubai airports’ official flights schedules and subject to airports being operational at the destination.

• PCR tests at Dubai airports must be taken upon return.

• 14-day quarantine imposed on all positive COVID-19 cases.

Procedures for Dubai’s citizens and residents travelling abroad

• Citizens and residents have freedom to travel to several countries on any of the airlines that have approved flights to and from Dubai airports.

• Adherence to the measures specified by the destination country upon arrival.

• Complete Health Declaration Form before departing to ensure travellers are clear of any symptoms.

• Register details on the COVID-19 DXB app.

Departure procedures

• Comply with the official procedures established by the destination country regarding testing and quarantine.

• Complete Health Declaration Form before departure.

• Airlines have the right to reject travellers if they display any symptoms of COVID-19.

Procedure to follow at travel destination

• Comply with the official procedures established by the destination country regarding testing and quarantine.

Procedures to follow on returning to Dubai

• PCR test required, taken upon arrival at Dubai airports.

• Residents must stay home until their PCR test results come out.

• Passengers arriving are required to download COVID-19 DXB app.

• Obligation to abide by 14-day quarantine for positive COVID-19 cases.

• Home quarantine possible if the conditions of quarantine are met, according to official guidelines from the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre.

• Residents who test positive for COVID-19 and are home-sharing or live in high-density housing, will be required to be isolated at a facility. Their employer should provide the quarantine facility in accordance with COVID-19 Command and Control Centre guidelines or choose a quarantine facility provided by the government in return for bearing the costs involved.

• Compliance with all precautionary measures applied in Dubai (wearing masks, maintaining two metre social distance and washing hands regularly).

For those testing positive for COVID-19:

• Strict compliance with the procedures set out for positive cases by the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, including institutional quarantine, home quarantine or hospitalisation.

Guidelines for tourists and visitors entering the country from July 7

• Tourists and visitors allowed to enter, according to Dubai airports’ official flight schedules and subject to airports being operational at their departure destinations.

• Show their PCR test results (valid for 96 hours) upon their arrival in Dubai or carry out a test at Dubai airports.

• 14-day quarantine imposed on all positive COVID-19 cases.

Requirements to travel to Dubai

• Fulfil entry visa requirements to visit the UAE.

• Ensure you have travel health insurance before traveling, in the event you do not have international coverage. Sign a declaration to bear all costs of quarantine and treatment and complete the Health Declaration Form before departure to ensure the passenger has no COVID-19 symptoms.

• Tourists required to register all their details on the COVID-19 DXB app.

Procedures to follow from departure destination

Tourists must take a PCR test up to four days prior to their date of travel (maximum 96 hours).

• Take a PCR test before travelling, or if this hasn’t been done, a PCR test is carried out upon arrival at Dubai airports.

• Complete Health Declaration Form before departing.

• Airlines have the right to deny travellers if they display any symptoms of COVID-19.

Arrival at Dubai Airports

In the event the tourist is not carrying a valid PCR test result, a test will be carried out at Dubai Airports.

• All arriving passengers will have their temperatures taken with thermal screening devices.

• Tourists who do not carry a valid PCR test result will have to take the test upon arrival.

• The PCR test can be repeated for tourists who had tested negative before departing, but display COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.

Procedures to follow after leaving Dubai airports

• Tourists required to download the COVID-19 DXB app.

• 14-day quarantine imposed on all positive COVID-19 cases.

• Compliance with all precautionary measures applied in Dubai (wearing masks, maintaining two-metre social distancing and washing hands regularly).