Dubai issues new travel guidelines for residents, visitors and Emiratis

Emiratis, residents and tourists travelling overseas from Dubai must undergo a Covid-19 PCR test prior to departure only if their destination country requires them to do so

by Varun Godinho

October 2, 2020

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management has updated the travel protocols for all residents, Emiratis, tourists and transit passengers travelling into and out of the emirate.

The committee issued the new guidelines under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Friday.

It said that the amended protocols aim to ease hassles for passengers and exempt citizens from additional procedures without compromising the prescribed precautionary measures outlined by the Dubai Health Authority as well as the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre.

Arrival protocols state that citizens are not required to conduct a PCR test prior to departure regardless of the destination they come from or time spent there. Citizens will only be required to undergo a PCR test upon arrival to Dubai. pic.twitter.com/PfcsWHZvgp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 2, 2020

For residents
All residents will have to undergo a PCR test in the country where they are present prior to their departure for Dubai.

Residents travelling overseas from Dubai are only required to undergo a PCR test prior to departure if their destination country requires a pre-travel negative test certificate.

For visitors
All inbound tourists will have to undergo a PCR test in the country where they are present prior to their departure for Dubai.

Tourists travelling overseas from Dubai are only required to undergo a PCR test prior to departure if their destination country requires a pre-travel negative test certificate.

For Emiratis
Emiratis returning to Dubai from foreign countries are not required to do a PCR test prior to departure, regardless of the country they are coming from and the time spent there.

They will though be required to conduct a PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

Emiratis, travelling overseas from Dubai are only required to undergo a PCR test prior to departure if their destination country requires a pre-travel negative test certificate.

For transit passengers
Transit passengers from some countries are required to conduct a PCR test prior to departure for Dubai.

The pre-travel test is also mandatory for transit passengers if their destination country requires them to do so.

In related developments, Emirates has said that all its customers can claim medical expenses of up to EUR150,000 and quarantine costs of EUR100 per day for 14 days, regardless of the class of travel or destination on flights undertaken until October 31, 2020.

Read: Dubai’s Emirates to be first airline to offer free cover for Covid-19 medical costs for passengers

Emirates additionally announced last month that its passengers departing from Dubai can take a Covid-19 PCR test at a reduced rate of Dhs150 at at American Hospital in Dubai, American Hospital Dubai Media City Clinic, American Hospital Al Barsha Clinic and American Hospital Al Khawanij Clinic.

Flydubai too stated that it had partnered with Aster DM Healthcare to offer passengers Covid-19 PCR tests at a special rate of Dhs180.

The offer is available for flydubai passengers travelling from Dubai, with testing services available at 28 Aster hospitals and clinics across Dubai and the northern emirates.