In order to enhance the passenger traffic flow through the Dubai International Airport, authorities are setting up a laboratory to conduct COVID-19 PCR tests that will generate results within 3-4 hours.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths noted that a lab is going to be established on the premises near Terminal 2 to conduct PCR tests. He underlined that the results of those tests would be available within 3-4 hours.

Addressing the Arabian Travel Market 2021 on Wednesday, Griffiths noted that Dubai will continue to ensure the medical security of all arriving passengers. He added that the medical aspect very un-intrusive for Dubai that positioned the emirate at the top of the list of desirable places for travellers.

Griffiths further affirmed that if biometric vaccine passports are available across the world, it will be a possible substitute for PCR test in the coming time.

"We have already got the COVID-19 applications active, which show the vaccination status of the people. If other countries are doing a similar thing, then all we need is to join it up. And through IATA, we will be able to join that," Dubai Airports CEO added.

He highlighted that neither airports nor airlines would be invading the privacy of passengers through digital vaccination passports.

"We don't need to know your health status. We just need to be informed by the authority that is monitoring your health back in your country that you're good to go," he noted.

He explained with an example, stating that vaccines passports would be like mobile wallets which process payments without telling the merchant about the amount of money in the user's bank account.

In a similar manner, vaccine passports would inform airlines and airports about the user's vaccination details to ensure their safety during travel. The airlines and airports will only access relevant medical information stored in the passports without disclosing it.

Travel to be better post COVID-19

Griffiths assured that travel after the COVID-19 pandemic would become seamless as before the outbreak, perhaps even better. In this regard, he underlined that COVID-19 has accelerated a number of issues that the aviation industry was struggling with for several years previously. It is due to technological advancement that airports and airlines will be able to improve bureaucratic experiences for passengers to make their travel better in the coming time.

"COVID-19 passports are now possible because technology has advanced," he added.

Dubai Airports CEO highlighted that relevant data is being shared with the UK authorities.

He lauded the efforts made by the UAE authorities in limiting the number of COVID-19 cases per capita in the first wave much below the world average. Griffiths added that the UAE is just behind Israel in terms of vaccination per capita.

"This shows that we are doing everything we could. I think the UAE, in retrospect, will be seen that most of those things were done very, very right. I don't think the UAE has been fairly placed on the red list. They will have their own reasons for that but I don't think we belong to that list," he added.

In this regard, he pointed out that the UK has put some countries on its green and amber list which have not ensured even half of the precautions that the UAE implemented. The UAE is scheduled to revise its list on May 28 and Griffiths has expressed hope that the UAE will be put on the green list. He asserted that the UK will take the decision based on data and official numbers.

"With the kind of data coming out of the UAE with cases below 1,200, I would suggest that will give the UK confidence to get the UAE back on the amber - if not green list," he added.

Industry outlook

Dubai Airports CEO is expecting global travel to return to pre-pandemic levels by the year 2024. He expressed the readiness of Dubai authorities and the aviation industry to respond to the slightest easing of restrictions and mobilise the potential of the airport and airlines. Griffiths highlighted that the recovery will be rapid, but the tipping point will be uncertain to decide.

Within seven days, we can reopen Terminal 1, which is currently in suspended mode. Then, the A380 terminal is also in hibernation mode which needs three weeks to bring back to operational," he stated.