Emirates updates Dubai travel requirements for Indian and Pakistani passengers

Dubai: Emirates airline has updated travel requirements for tourists visiting Dubai. The UAE had earlier announced that it will resume issuing tourist visas for fully vaccinated people from all countries as of August 30. The decision includes countries from which entry was previously banned.

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.

GDRFA or ICA approval is not required for tourists travelling to the UAE. Passengers arriving from the following countries must follow specific protocols: Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Indonesia.

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 Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka:

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 US, or a residence visa issued by the UK or EU.

The visa issued by US, UK or EU has to be valid for a minimum of 6 months.

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 Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe.

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

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

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

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 also applies to:

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.

Emirates airline said in a tweet on Tuesday that all UAE residents can land in Dubai along with holders of other visas.

“As per the current update, all UAE residents, newly issued residence or employment visas, short stay/long-stay visa, visit visa, visa on arrival will be accepted for travel to Dubai. Passengers traveling with a UAE Resident visa must have GDRFA or ICA approval,” said the airline in response to a customer query.

Previously, only the holders of Dubai-issued residence visas could land in the emirate from India, Pakistan and several other countries.