1. Entry Restrictions

International travel to the United Arab Emirates is currently restricted, except for the following passengers:

• Nationals and residents of the United Arab Emirates;
• Travelers holding UAE residence visas, provided that they have obtained the necessary pre-approval to be permitted to return (Dubai residence visa holders must obtain the approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs; holders of residence visas issued by an emirate outside of Dubai have to secure the approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship);
• Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia who hold a United Arab Emirates Identity Card and who are travelling to Dubai (DXB);
• Travelers who are domestic workers who are traveling with their visa sponsor or immediate family member of the sponsor;
• Travelers holding an entry permit issued by the United Arab Emirates;
• Passengers traveling as tourists to either Dubai (DXB) or Sharjah (SHJ) airports and who possess an onward/return ticket;
• Nationals of South Korea travelling under the Fast Track program and travelling to Dubai (DBX) or Abu Dhabi (AUH)  with either a pre-arranged visa or pre-approval to enter;
• Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Chia (PRC), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR), Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Vatican City (Holy See) traveling to Abu Dhabi (AUH);
• Nationals of India travelling to Abu Dhabi (AUH) who hold either a visa issued by the United States or a residence permit issued by the United States or an EU Member State;
• Nationals of Indonesia travelling under the Safe Travel Corridor program who hold an entry permit and a return ticket;
• Passengers in transit traveling through Abu Dhabi (AUH) whose layover at AUH is for 12 hours or less;
• Travelers who are coming to Abu Dhabi (AUH) and are eligible for a visa on arrival.

COVID-19 Test Requirements – Dubai

Tourists arriving in Dubai from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, the United Kingdom and Germany are not required to take a COVID‑19 PCR test prior to departure. They can do the test on arrival in Dubai (DBX). They still have the option of taking the test 96 hours before departure to Dubai from their country of origin and they must bring an official, printed certificate in English or Arabic to check in – electronic certificates are not accepted.

Tourists arriving in Dubai from Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives Islands, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey or the United States are subject to the following test requirements:

• They must present a valid original negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate (either in English or Arabic) for a test taken no more than 96 hours before departure;
• The certificate must be for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Other test certificates including antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai;

Tourists arriving in Dubai from 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, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia or Zimbabwe are subject to the following test requirements:

• They must take two COVID‑19 PCR tests: one 96 hours prior to departure, and a second test upon arrival in Dubai;
• The certificate must be for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Other test certificates including antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai;
• They must bring an official, printed certificate in English or Arabic to check in – SMS and digital certificates are not accepted.
  
  

UAE residents travelling from 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, Malaysia, Maldives Islands, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom or the United States are subject to the following test requirements:

• UAE residents have the option to present an official negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate (in either English or Arabic) for a test taken no more than 96 hours before departure or take the COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai.
• The certificate must be for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Other test certificates including antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai.

UAE residents travelling from 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, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia or Zimbabwe are subject to the following test requirements:

• They must take two COVID‑19 PCR tests: one 96 hours prior to departure, and a second test upon arrival in Dubai;
• The certificate must be for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Other test certificates including antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai;
• They must bring an official, printed certificate in English or Arabic to check in – SMS and digital certificates are not accepted.

COVID-19 test exemptions:

• Nationals of the United Arab Emirates (they will undergo a COVID-19 test at the time of arrival);
• Children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability.

COVID‑19 testing laboratories:

Travelers from most countries may complete a COVID-19 PCR test either at one of the designated laboratories specified  by the UAE Government or any of the certified laboratories in the traveler’s  country of origin. However, travelers coming from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh must complete their COVID-19 PCR test  your certificate from one of the designated laboratories to be accepted on the flight to Dubai.

COVID-19 Test Requirements – Abu Dhabi

All travelers to Abu Dhabi are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR certificate based on a test taken within 96 hours before departure, except for children under the age of 12 and travelers with severe and moderate disabilities. Pre-departure COVID-19 PCR tests must be taken at an approved lab or a lab accredited by the authorities in the departure country.

Travelers coming from another Emirate, such as Dubai, must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 96 hours prior to arrival before being permitted to enter Abu Dhabi. Travelers who have spent more than 14 days in another Emirate prior to arriving in Dubai and who are planning to stay in Dubai for six or more consecutive days must take another COVID-19 PCR test by the 6^th day. 

Procedures Upon Arrival

Travelers coming to Dubai (DXB) are subject to medical screening and must download and register the COVID-19 DXB Smart App (iOS or Android). Passengers traveling to Abu Dhabi (AUH) of Sharjah (SHJ) must download the ALHOSN app.

Please note that visa on arrival facilities in Abu Dhabi (AUH) have resumed. All international travelers arriving in Abu Dhabi, including infants and children, are subject to thermal screening and COVID-19 PCR testing. Passengers traveling to Abu Dhabi must also download the ALHOSN app.

2. Quarantine/Self-Isolation Requirements

Those travelers who are permitted to travel to Dubai without a negative COVID-19 PCR test prior to departure or travelers who are required to undergo a second test will be tested at the time of arrival and the travelers will need to remain in Quarantine at their residence or hotel until the test results are released. If the test results are positive, then travelers will need to stay in isolation and follow the instructions of the Dubai Health Authority. If the test results are negative, travelers can end their quarantine.

Travelers who arrive in Abu Dhabi are required to quarantine either at home or at a hotel for a period of 14 days and travelers are issued and must wear a government-issued wristband for the duration of the quarantine. Please note that some travelers arriving from high-risk countries may be required to complete their quarantine period at a government facility. UAE residents arriving in Abu Dhabi are exempt from the quarantine requirement. 

Travelers in self-quarantine must conduct another COVId-19 PCR test on Day 12 of the quarantine period. If the result of this test is negative, then the wristband is removed and the quarantine period is completed.

Travelers arriving in Abu Dhabi from another Emirate where they have stayed over the past 14 days are exempt from the quarantine requirement. Travelers who have remained in another Emirate for less than 14 days must complete a 14-day quarantine, but they can deduct days spent in the other Emirate from the 14-day period. They will also need to complete another COVID-19 test on Day 12 of their quarantine. If the result of this test is negative, then the wristband is removed and the quarantine period is completed.

Please note that this page is updated on an ongoing basis, but COVID-19 related restrictions and policies are subject to frequent and sudden change, often with little to no advance notice to the public. Therefore, to ensure that you have the latest updates, we recommend that you reach out to T&S at emea@tandslaw.com for additional information.