As more and more countries have been able to manage the covid 19 crisis which disrupted daily activities including international travels, there has been significant ease in the lockdown measures. Gulf countries especially the UAE  have recently opened their borders to foreign nationals passing to, from, and through Dubai. This however comes with some precautionary measures and travels rules with the aim to curtail the spread of the virus. Some of the new travel protocols include mandatory testing, self-quarantine, location tracing which was determined by the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management. Here, Royal Migration, a Dubai-based migration services company specializing in all kinds of visas delve deeper into important things you need to know while traveling to these countries in the wake of covid 19. For more information on visa-related rules and how you can successfully scale through visa processes during these trying times, go through the Royal Migration Review. With that said, read on to know more about these rules.

Before traveling:

International tourists must undertake a PCR test which must have a negative test certificate and must be valid for 96 hours from the date of the test before departure.- except for selected 29 countries that are allowed to undergo a PCR test upon arrival at Dubai International Airport.

If you are transitioning through Dubai to a country that requires COVID 19 test, you may have to present a negative PCR test certificate.

The only accepted proof of results is a printed certificate in English or Arabic which must be for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. SMS  or digitalized certificate are not allowed.

In all cases, the test must be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Any other test such as an antibody is not accepted.

Although the UAE has designated laboratories for the covid 19 test, however, you can still use any certified laboratories in your country of origin for the test before departure.

For the rest of the UAE, Whether it’s returning residents, tourists, citizens, anyone traveling to UAE is mandated to take a COVID-19 PCR test which must carry proof of negative results.

Upon arrival:

Ahead of the journey, international passengers are required to fill out a health declaration form and quarantine form which are to be handed over to Dubai Health Authority staff on arrival.

Visitors are also required to have covered health insurance and are to fill in their details completely and accurately on the COVID-19 DXB app for seamless communication and coordination with the health authorities.

Upon arrival, all passengers will undergo thermal screenings at the airport. Anyone showing symptoms of COVID 19 may be required to take unother PCR test and self-quarantine in the hotel or residence before the test result is known.

If positive, compulsory isolation at a hotel or government facility is the next thing. Passenger is advised to strictly adhere to the health measures issued by the Dubai authorities in regards to quarantine.

Before departure:

International passengers departing from Dubai may have to take another PCR test if it is mandated by the country they are traveling to. With the continuous change in travel rules and regulations, a good rule of thumb is to stay up-to- date with the travel requirements regarding the country you are traveling to.

Note that the rules for traveling can change with a short time frame and travelers are advised to check the updated travel rules before departure. For more on navigating visa issues and travel restrictions, Royal Migration is here to help. Read more on the Royal Migration Review to see how travelers like you have been able to handle visa issues and international traveling while adhering to the strict travel measures.