The UAE has brought in more changes on the vaccination status of expats wanting to return to the country.
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Emirates airline on August 10 updated its travel rules for UAE residents flying in from India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Uganda. In the latest guidelines, COVID-19 vaccination certificate is no longer stated as a requirement for entry into Dubai.
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“Acting on the latest travel guidelines issued by UAE, Genestrings Diagnostic Centre has set up Rapid PCR test facility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in delhi. The testing facility will have about 50 Rapid PCR Machines based on ID NOW technology to begin with and is looking at doubling this capacity. Cost per test will be Rs5000 and with reports issued in 45-60 minutes.
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As for Etihad, the vaccination certificate of receiving both doses from within the UAE is still a requirement according to their latest travel guidelines.
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Travel agents said they have also been briefed by airlines that vaccination certificates are not being checked for allowing UAE residents to return to Dubai.
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In a travel update, Indian carrier Vistara also said, “Regardless of vaccination status, customers will be welcomed on Vistara flights to Dubai.”
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Earlier this month, the UAE announced it would allow all resident visa holders stranded in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal to re-enter from August 5. This was confirmed by the General Civil Aviation Authority and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority.
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It was earlier announced, that only residency-visa holders who were vaccinated in the UAE and have vaccination certificates issued by UAE authorities would be allowed to travel from these countries. The NCEMA announced that some returning residents are exempt from the vaccination requirement; these include medical and other healthcare personnel working in the country. They can return whether vaccinated or not, provided some other conditions are met.
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This exemption also applies to residents working in the educational sector. Students attending institutions in the UAE, people who deserve humanitarian consideration and with a valid residency visa, workers in federal and local government departments, and those completing treatment in the country are also allowed to return, whether they are vaccinated or not.
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Currently, Kerala is where demand for UAE flights remain the highest. Other cities include Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai. Yesterday, Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi confirmed that they are fully equipped with rapid PCR test facilities that can deliver results within four hours.
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The average airfare for India-UAE flights are surging due to increasing demand, from their earlier range of Dh400 to Dh1,500.
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Flights are running at 50 per cent occupancy rate due to the UAE’s policy. According to Sudheesh of Deira Travels, only 15-20 per cent of expat community are flying back. He says, travellers are hoping for UAE to soon allow people vaccinated in India to fly in.
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According to him, getting GDRFA (for Dubai residents) and ICA (for residents from other emirate) approval is the most crucial part of the process due to their own protocol measures.
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Sharjah is one of the most travelled destinations in the UAE from India, because it is the only emirate in the UAE to allow all UAE resident holders. Other destinations have set protocol measures and only permit their respective emirates’ resident holders to enter.
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Air Arabia operates one of the highest booked flights since the UAE allowed flights to return. This is because the Air Arabia operates direct flights to Sharjah.
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Travel requirements: A negative RT-PCR test report having QR code from authorized laboratories with 48 hours validity from the time of sample collection. A rapid PCR test must be done within four hours of departure of the flight at the airport and they must undergo a PCR test at the arriving airport. UAE nationals are exempt from above three requirements.
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Go Air, Air India, Air India Express, Vistara and Indigo have started their operations from India to the UAE. Spice Jet will start from August 13.
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The UAE is currently allowing only vaccinated people into its borders. The nation is gearing up for its most anticipated Expo 2020 opening. The event is expecting a majority of its visitors to come from the South Asian community.
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