Travelling to UAE - Things You Must Know

After months of travel ban and restrictions, UAE is finally open for tourism. The two major travel hubs in the UAE – Dubai and Abu Dhabi – are now welcoming people across the world, with strict guidelines in place. If you are planning to travel to the UAE, here is everything you need to know before entering the country.

To enter Dubai, UAE residents are required to undergo the COVID-19 PCR test, no more than 72 hours before the departure. Children below 12 years of age and people with severe disabilities are exempted from this. Antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai. UAE residents traveling from the following countries are required to undergo two PCR tests – one no more than 72 hours before departure and the second on arrival - Egypt, Tajikistan, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, India, Angola, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chile, Jordan, Moldova, Cambodia, Cyprus, Croatia, Djibouti, Czech Republic, Georgia, Eritrea, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran, Guinea, Iraq, Hungary, Israel, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Vietnam, Lebanon, Ukraine, Montenegro, Myanmar, Poland, Turkmenistan, Morocco, Slovakia, Nepal, Zambia, Nigeria, Russia, Romania, Philippines, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda,  Rwanda, Senegal, , Tanzania,  Somaliland, Somalia, Argentina, Syria, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Malta,  Zimbabwe and Turkey.

However, flights from the following countries are currently suspended: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.

The rules are quite similar for residents and tourists travelling to Abu Dhabi. Tourists are required to present a negative PCR test taken within 48 or 72 hours of departure, if they are travelling with Etihad. This is dependent on the country they are travelling from. Tourists from a green list destination do not need to go into quarantine but must undergo three PCR tests excluding the pre-departure test – one on arrival, a second one after 6 days and the last one on the 12th day of their arrival. Destinations currently on the green list are: China Australia, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, UK, US, Brunei, New Zealand, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Germany, Taiwan (ROC), Greenland, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Russia, Iceland, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Spain, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Moldova, Portugal and Morocco.

Tourists traveling to Dubai must undergo PCR test on arrival, and then obtain a medically approved wristband and go into a mandatory quarantine after signing a quarantine undertaking form before heading to a residence or hotel. They must undergo a PCR test again on the eight day and can exit the quarantine if the result is negative. They can remove the wristband on the 10th day and can explore the city freely.

UAE nationals are exempt from taking the PCR test before departure to Dubai. They need to take the test on arrival instead.

UAE is famous for tourism, commercial activities and job opportunities. People across the world often travel to UAE to seek job, participate in business activities or just to experience the country that it is. The expatriates include Indians, Afghanis, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and people from other middle Eastern countries as well. With its rich infrastructure, safe premises and great job opportunities, Dubai is an excellent destination in UAE for outsiders. The experience one receives living in this country is immense and it is by far the best country in the Middle East.

With restrictions in travel, most people who were on holidays back at their native countries found it impossible to come back to their place of work. Some lost their jobs, while others who are still in the country are restricted to travel abroad. With an ease in the restrictions, now people can travel to the UAE and settle down peacefully with their jobs and lives. But all these are only possible with the PCR tests being negative. No other test is valid in Dubai.

For PCR tests within Dubai, you can always opt the drive through PCR at Al Nahda Center. The center that primarily provides government document processing services in UAE, has recently started the PCR tests where you don’t even need to step out of the car. You can park the car in one of the lanes in the large parking area, and a designated medical staff from DHA will take the swab and the result will be sent to your email address or phone number (SMS) within 12 hours of test.