1. Travelling amid COVID-19
  2. Travelling to the UAE

Travelling to the UAE

All expatriate residents returning to the UAE must present a negative result of a PCR test at the departure airport. This test should have been conducted within 96 hours before travelling to the UAE. Expatriate residents returning to the 6 emirates other than Dubai no longer need an approval from ICA to return to the UAE, but you must download the Al HOSN app on your mobile phones to allow authorities to monitor your health while you are in quarantine. Expatriate residents returning to Dubai need approval from GDRFA and must download the COVID-19 DXB smart app.

Guidelines that apply to all expatriate residents

These guidelines issued by National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority and Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship apply to all expatriate residents returning to the UAE through any of the UAE’s airports. Passengers must:

 

All costs for quarantining and medical assistance, whether at home or in another designated facility will be at the cost of the individual primarily. In certain circumstances, employers of the returning individuals shall bear all costs related to the medical examination and quarantine.

Learn more about quarantine guidelines for travellers to the UAE.

Travelling to Abu Dhabi (as of 17 January 2021)

Only UAE nationals, residents with a valid residence visa, and those who are eligible for a visa on arrival can enter the UAE through Abu Dhabi’s airports. All other types of visas remain suspended. If you are travelling to Abu Dhabi, you must follow these additional rules:

  • take the PCR test 72 hours before your flight, if you are flying from the United Kingdom
  • download the ALHOSN UAE app on your mobile phones before you travel to Abu Dhabi
  • undergo a thermal screening and another COVID-19 PCR testing on arrival at Abu Dhabi airport.

 

The rules apply to all travellers, except children under the age of 12.

 

Although you no longer need an approval from Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) to enter the UAE, you are recommended to visit uaeentry.ica.gov.ae and submit your passport number and Emirates ID number to receive instant verification of your entry status.

 

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Travelling to Dubai - rules as of 26 October 2020

Rules for Emirati nationals

If you are a citizen of the UAE, and coming through Dubai’s airport, you are exempt from the PCR test prior to departure, regardless of the country you are coming from. However, you will be tested on arrival in Dubai.

Rules for expatriate residents, tourists and those transiting through Dubai

For expatriate residents, tourists and those transiting through Dubai the need for taking the PCR test depends on the destination you are coming from. Children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability are exempt from taking the COVID-19 test. Refer to Emirates Airline and FlyDubai for details.

For passengers coming from:

Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and 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 and United States.

(This list is subject to change. Follow Dubai Media Office on Twitter for updates.)

For passengers coming 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, Zimbabwe.

(This list is subject to change. Follow Dubai Media Office on Twitter for updates.)

Additional rules for expatriate residents

  • If you hold Dubai residence visa, you must get an approval from GDRFA to return to Dubai, prior to travel.
  • For others, you must visit uaeentry.ica.gov.ae, submit your passport number and Emirates ID number to receive instant verification of your entry status.

Some residents might be tested again on arrival at Dubai’s airport. If you are required to take another PCR test on arrival, you must remain in quarantine at your residence until you receive the test result. If the test result is positive, you must stay in isolation and follow the instructions of Dubai Health Authority. If the test result is negative, you do not need to quarantine yourself.

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Rules that apply to all passengers arriving at or transiting through Dubai

  • COVID-19 negative test certificate must be for a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Dubai does not accept other forms of tests including antibody tests and home-testing kits.
  • PCR certificates must be official and printed in English or Arabic. SMS and digital certificates are not accepted.
  • If you are flying from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, you must get your PCR certificate from one of the labs listed in the designated laboratories.
  • If you are flying from other countries, you can use either laboratories designated by Dubai Government or any other laboratories certified in your country.
  • All travellers must complete a health declaration form (PDF, 500 KB).
  • They must download COVID-19 DXB app available on App Store and Google Play.

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Travelling to Sharjah – rules as of 23 September 2020

On 23 September 2020, Sharjah government announced new guidelines for travellers through the ports of Sharjah.

Requirements for the return of Sharjah’s expatriate residents

  • You no longer need an approval from ICA to return to the UAE
  • You must present a negative PCR test result before boarding; this test should have been conducted within 96 hours before the date of travel
  • You must take another PCR test upon arrival at Sharjah’s port; if you test positive, you or your sponsor will bear the cost of isolation and medical expenses
  • You need to download the Al HOSN app on your mobile phones to allow authorities to monitor your health while you are in quarantine.

Entry of visitors and tourists through Sharjah International Airport
If you are a tourist or a visitor, you are permitted to travel  through Sharjah ports provided you:

  • have an international health insurance coverage
  • present a negative PCR test result before boarding, this test should have been conducted within 96 hours before the date of travel
  • take another PCR test upon arrival at Sharjah’s port
  • fill a health disclosure form at Sharjah’s port
  • quarantine yourself until the results of the PCR tests are released.

If you test positive, you or your sponsor must bear the cost of isolation and medical expenses.

Read more guidelines on safe travel.

For further information on travelling to the UAE, visit the following websites:

 

To summarise:

All expatriate residents returning to the UAE must present a negative result of a PCR test at the departure airport. This test should have been conducted within 96 hours before travelling to the UAE.

Expatriate residents returning to the 6 emirates other than Dubai,

  • However, you need to download the Al HOSN app on your mobile phones to allow authorities to monitor your health while you are in quarantine.

 Expatriate residents returning to Dubai, need approval from GDRFA and must download the COVID-19 DXB smart app available on App Store and Google Play.

Updated on 01 Feb 2021

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