UAE outlines conditions under which residents, citizens can travel abroad

Travel will be permitted to specific destinations and for pre-determined categories of people starting June 23

June 18, 2020

The UAE government has announced the specific conditions under which residents and citizens within the country can travel abroad beginning June 23.

Read: UAE residents, citizens allowed to travel to select countries from June 23

Dr Saif Dhaheri, spokesperson for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), said that all countries have been classified into three categories: low-risk nations, medium-risk nations and high-risk nations, reported news agency WAM.

Residents and citizens in the UAE will be allowed to travel freely to low-risk nations, he said, without specifying which nations fall within this category.

Travel to medium-risk nations is available only to a limited category of citizens and only in case of emergency, namely for necessary medical reasons, or for visiting first-degree family members, or for military, diplomatic and official missions.

All travel to high-risk countries is banned, said Dr Saif.

He stated that a travel protocol will be enforced which will rely on a number of tenets, namely public health, medical tests, prior travel registration, quarantine, self-follow-up of traveller’s health status and awareness of the precautionary measures.

The following measures are to be observed by all citizens and residents before travelling abroad:
– All citizens and residents must apply for a travel request through the Federal Authority for Citizenship and Identity’s website and register in the Twajudi service prior to travel.

– They must undergo a Covid-19 test before travel as the health regulations in the country of destination may require a test result which is conducted no more than 48 hours before the travel date. These test results have to be presented at the UAE’s airports via the ALHOSN app. Only travelers who test negative are allowed to travel.

– People over the age of 70 will not be allowed to travel. Also, those with chronic diseases are advised not to travel for their own safety.

– An international medical insurance covering the country of destination is mandatory for all travellers.

– Everyone must comply with preventive measures at the airports, including wearing face masks, gloves, constant sanitisation of their hands and maintaining safe physical distance.

– People with body temperatures of 37.8 C or higher, or those with respiratory disease symptoms will be isolated. Any persons suspected to have contracted Covid-19 won’t be permitted to travel.

– Emiratis and residents must fill the required individual health accountability form, which includes an agreement to quarantine themselves upon return and not to travel to destinations other than the ones applied to.

At the destination country, and before returning to the UAE, the following measures need to be observed:
– Travellers who feel unwell should go to the nearest health center and use their health insurance.

– If they undergo a Covid-19 test in the foreign country and test positive, they should notify the UAE embassy in that country, either through Tawajudi Service or by contacting the embassy. The UAE mission will ensure that Covid-19 patients are taken care of and the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention will be notified.

The following measure must be observed by citizens and residents upon their return to the UAE:
– Everyone must wear a face mask at all times upon entry.

– All travellers must show a special form of their itinerary and health status form, along with their identification documents.

– Travellers must ensure they download and activate ALHOSN app on their mobile phones.

– Upon returning, travellers must undergo a mandatory home quarantine for 14 days after the Covid-19 test, which could decrease to seven days for travellers arriving from countries with lower risk or for professionals in critical sectors.

– Travellers with any symptoms must commit to undergo Covid-19 tests in an accredited medical facility within 48 hours of entering the country.

– If it is not possible to undergo home quarantine, the traveller must commit to self-quarantine in a facility or a hotel and pay all expenses.

Dr. Saif added that those on study scholarships, medical treatment trips, members of the diplomatic missions and business trips, whether from public or private sectors, should coordinate with the respective authorities for further details.

He added that the procedures will be updated regularly, based on new developments and the health situation on the ground.

Last week, the UAE launched an initiative to return residents to the country.

On June 4, the UAE government has also lifted the restriction on airports across the country, permitting them to resume a limited number of commercial passenger flights leading several UAE airlines including Emirates and Etihad Airways to announce resumption of flights to several destinations.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad to resume services to and from Bahrain this week