In the wake of the highly transmissible Covid variant Omicron, the United Arab Emirates has decided to implement stricter protocols when it comes to ensuring safety of the residents and hence some of the regulations have been changed for those seeking to travel to the nation.

The Emirati nation has imposed a ban on those traveling without being fully vaccinated along with other changes in the travel format.

Travelling to Abu Dhabi:

If you are not an Emirati, then as a resident you must register via the ICA Smart Travel Service before flying.

If you are fully vaccinated in the UAE itself then you can register just ahead of flying. You do not even need to upload your vaccine certificate.

In case you are vaccinated outside UAE then you will have to register five days before your flight where you will be receiving a QR code by email.

If you have not been vaccinated at all, you can register any time before you fly.

Travellers must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result before every flight. Take the test 48 hours before your flight departure time if Abu Dhabi is your final destination. Covid test is also mandatory for transit passengers.

A rapid PCR test will be taken within six hours of boarding at the airport for passengers from countries like India and Pakistan.

Quarantine and testing on arrival:

Green List country - Test on arrival in Abu Dhabi airport, no quarantine required and Test on day six.

Visiting from any other destination - Test on arrival in Abu Dhabi airport, no quarantine required and test on days four and eight.

Travelling to Dubai:

As far as travel to Dubai is concerned, all UAE residents can travel to Dubai and do not need any approval by the GDRFA or ICA approval unless they are traveling from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan. GDRFA approval is not mandatory for travelers who have other visas.

People traveling from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan should show a negative PCR test result conducted within 48 hours and also provide a negative result of a rapid PCR test conducted within 6 hours of departure.

Travelling from UK:

All the passengers travelling from the UK must take an PCR test before 48 hours of departure and the negative report must state the location of where the sample was taken.

Test on arrival: Passengers travelling from some countries will have to take a PCR at the Dubai Airport. The travellers must remain at their residence and self-quarantine till they receive the test result.

For people travelling to Sharjah and other emirates:

For Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, a recently introduced E-visa must register prior to departure. No prior approval is required for visas issued in Sharjah or any other emirate.

Travellers including UAE nationals, arriving from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Kenya, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Uganda are required to have a negative PCR test result which is conducted within 48 hours of the flight. They are also required to conduct a rapid PCR test at the airport six hours prior to departure. Children under the age of 16 are exempted from all the tests.

Passengers travelling from other countries can conduct the test before 72 hours of the flight departure time. Test on arrival is mandatory except for UAE nationals and children below 12 years of age.