Under the leadership of Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai has updated the emirate's travel protocols for passengers coming from India, Nigeria, and South Africa with effect from June 23, 2021.

The updates have been introduced in line with the Committee’s keenness to ensure the safety and wellbeing of passengers and easing any inconvenience for them, without compromising on the existing COVID-19 precautionary measures. The new guidelines have been implemented in accordance with COVID-19 protocols put in place by authorities to protect the public from infection.

As per the new protocols, travellers coming to Dubai from South Africa are required to be fully vaccinated with both doses of a UAE-approved vaccine. They are also required to present a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours before boarding the flight to Dubai. The committee has exempted UAE nationals from the PCR test requirement. Furthermore, passengers will have to take another PCR test upon arrival in Dubai. Transit passengers are urged to comply with all entry protocols of their final destinations.

Furthermore, passengers coming from Nigeria are required to present a negative PCR test result taken 48 hours prior to departure to Dubai. In addition, UAE citizens are exempted from presenting a negative PCR test result.

Passengers must ensure that their negative PCR test certificate is carrying a QR Code and is conducted by Nigerian government-approved labs only. Passengers will be required to undergo another PCR test on their arrival in the emirate.

For passengers flying from India, only those with a valid residence visa who have received both doses of a UAE-approved vaccine, are allowed to enter Dubai. They must present a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours of boarding their flight. UAE nationals have been exempted from the PCR test requirement.

The UAE authorities are accepting only QR-coded negative PCR test certificates administered by government-approved laboratories.

Moreover, passengers travelling from India will be required to undergo a rapid PCR test four hours before departure to Dubai. At the same time, they will have to undergo another PCR test upon their arrival in Dubai.

After arriving in Dubai, passengers flying from India are required to undergo institutional quarantine until the result of their PCR test result arrives, which is likely to be delivered within 24 hours.

As per the new protocols, UAE citizens and diplomats are exempted from institutional quarantine upon their arrival in the emirate.

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management underlined that the new travel protocols have been introduced after reviewing and modifying the precautionary measures in line with the latest developments in the pandemic locally, regionally, and internationally.

These protocols are aimed at enabling Dubai to continue its service as a global commercial hub and facilitate travel and trade between the east and west.

WAM