The New Travel Requirements for the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, one of the most popular travel destinations, has implemented new travel requirements regarding the health and safety of its visitors. 

To prevent any potential health threats, they will enforce strict regulations on all international visitors who enter the country.

International travelers arriving in Dubai must know new health requirements before considering boarding a plane to this country.

To find out how this will affect you, read on!

What are the new travel requirements for the United Arab Emirates?

The United Arab Emirates has recently announced new travel requirements for all travelers entering the country. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has stated that all travelers must have: 

• From now on, all passengers traveling to Dubai from all countries (Gulf Cooperation Council included) must have a negative COVID‐19.
• RT‐PCR test certificate for a test taken only 72 hours before departure. The certificate must be a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) test.

(Click here to book your pre-departure RT PCR test) 

• Other testing certificates, such as antibody tests, NHS COVID-19 Test certificates, COVID-19 Rapid PCR tests, and home testing kits, cannot be used in Dubai. UAE will not accept the results of self-tests or self-administered PCR tests.
• To check-in, travelers must present an official printed or digital certificate in English or Arabic – The United Arab Emirates will not accept SMS certificates. They might receive the COVID-19 PCR certificates in other languages if the country can validate the credentials at the originating station.
• An allowed facility in the passenger’s departure country listed in the designated laboratories must issue COVID‑19 RT PCR test certificates.
• A travel certificate already used for another destination can’t be used for reentry, regardless of when it expires.

United Arab Emirates COVID-19 PCR Travel Requirement exemptions

• UAE nationals are not required to take the COVID-19 PCR test before departure from Dubai, but they must do so upon arrival.
• In addition, non-UAE nationals accompanying UAE nationals of the first degree and domestic workers accompanying UAE national sponsors are exempt from pre-departure COVID-19 PCR requirements must take the test on arrival.
• The rules also exempted children below 12 years old from taking the PCR test.
• The COVID-19 test must be negative for passengers with moderate-to-severe disabilities, including those with sight or hearing impairments and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The following are examples: Acute spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Ataxia, Autism spectrum, Bell’s palsy Brain tumors, Cerebral aneurysm, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Epilepsy, and seizures. RT PCR test certificate as required.

Test on arrival United Arab Emirates Travel Requirements

Arriving Nigerians in Dubai will be required to take another COVID-19 PCR test upon their arrival at Dubai International Airport. These include:

• Until you receive the results of a test taken at the airport, you must remain in your hotel or residence.

• You will need to undergo isolation if the test is positive and follow the instructions provided by Dubai Health Authority.

In conclusion,

The Emirati government is drawing these steps to further protect the country from the Covid-19 pandemic and its variants. Are you traveling to the United Arab Emirates soon? Take a PCR test at Medbury Medical Services.