No pre-flight Covid-19 tests for UAE residents travelling to Dubai from these countries

Dubai-based carrier Emirates updated the mandatory pre-flight Covid-19 testing rules for inbound UAE residents on Monday.

It said that UAE residents from the following countries can take a single Covid-19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai and do not need to test themselves  prior to departure: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives Islands, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States (New York, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Seattle).

However, tourists arriving from the above countries must present a negative Covid 19 PCR test certificate that is valid for 96 hours from the date of the test before departure – except for passengers coming from the UK and Germany who have the option to take a COVID 19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

All transiting passengers from the above countries are not required to present a Covid 19 PCR test certificate unless it is mandated by their final destination.

List of countries from where incoming passengers still require pre-flight Covid-19 tests:

Emirates also published a separate list of countries from where inbound UAE residents must take two Covid 19 PCR tests: one before departure with a validity of 96 hours from the date of the test, and a second test upon arrival in Dubai.

These countries include: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United States (California, Florida, Texas), Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Tourists arriving from the above destinations must also take two Covid 19 PCR tests: the first before departure with a validity of 96 hours from the date of the test, and a second test upon arrival in Dubai.

Transiting passengers from these countries must also have a negative Covid 19 PCR test certificate that is valid for 96 hours from the date of test, as well as any additional requirements for their final destination.

The airline confirmed that the pre-flight tests must be of the Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kind. Any other test certificates including antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai.

Passengers who are required to present a Covid-19 negative test certificate before departure, must bring an official, printed certificate in English or Arabic to check in – SMS and digital certificates will not be accepted.

Earlier this month, Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said that 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.

Read: Dubai issues new travel guidelines for residents, visitors and Emiratis