UAE residents and citizens cannot travel abroad for tourism

UAE citizens and residents cannot travel abroad for leisure and tourism purposes, a senior government official clarified on Wednesday.

However, residents who wish to visit their home countries and return to the UAE will be permitted to do so, reported official news agency WAM.

All citizens and residents though must submit an application and secure a permit, prior to departure, via the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) website, said Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri, the official spokesman of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA).

Travel permission will be granted for students, those receiving medical treatment or who are travelling on diplomatic and government missions, and private sector employees too.

Businessmen in the commercial and economic sectors, including citizens and residents, can travel.

Al Dhaheri cautioned that some destination countries require a Covid-19 test conducted 48 hours before travel, and if these tests do not show a negative result, permission to depart from the country will not be granted.

He added that travellers must complete a health declaration form from the airlines, whether online or at the airport, and must acknowledge not to travel to a country of medium or high-risk, unless authorised to do so.

The official also advised those over 70 or people suffering with chronic diseases not to travel, except if they are traveling to receive medical treatment abroad.

Dr. Al Dhaheri: UAE citizens and residents will have to register and apply via https://t.co/bJUSRCfOCs prior to traveling. We advise individuals who have chronic health diseases as well as the elderly above 70 years old not to travel. #UAEGov

— UAEGov (@uaegov) July 1, 2020

Citizens who fall ill while aboard should avail of their international health insurance and visit the nearest medical centre.

If they test positive for Covid-19, they must inform the UAE embassy within that country.

When returning, travellers who show symptoms of the disease must go to the health center at the airport to be isolated and where their condition will be assessed.

Read: UAE citizens abroad with Covid-19 symptoms, virus should inform embassy

They must undergo a PCR test at the airport and home quarantine for 14 days. Those working in vital sectors or who are returning from low-risk countries are required to quarantine for seven days.

Should the individual not be able to fulfill the conditions for a home quarantine, they must quarantine at designated hotels at their own expense or stay in the designated health institutions guaranteed by the state, said Al Dhaheri.