The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has issued a new set of COVID-19 guidelines for Emiratis wishing to travel to foreign countries during the summer holidays. The ministry issued the travel advisory ahead of Spain's scheduled reopening of its borders to vaccinated travellers on June 7.

In this regard, the MoFAIC has designed three-step regulations for international travel, urging UAE nationals to comply with the necessary protocols to ensure maximum safety against COVID-19.

Before travelling

Prior to travelling to a foreign country, passengers are required to adhere to the COVID-19 precautionary measures. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined that the passengers must be well-informed about all health regulations and guidelines related to COVID-19 implemented by the destination country. Furthermore, they must register for the Twajudi service offered by the ministry for ease in their travel.

Passengers must also check the guidelines and policies of the airline they are flying with, along with the entry rules and regulations of their final destination. They must complete all necessary forms or paperwork ahead of their departure.

All citizens travelling to foreign countries are required to present a paper-based COVID-19 PCR negative test certificate issued by an officially recognised testing centre in the country. The PCR test must be taken no more than 72 hours before the flight departure.

In case a person experiences high temperature or displays any symptoms of respiratory diseases, they will be isolated and the airport's health centre will carry out the necessary protocols. If the passenger is suspected of having infected with COVID-19, the airport authorities will transfer them to the nearby health centre in the emirate.

When in a foreign country

While visiting any foreign destination during the holidays, UAE passengers are advised to regularly monitor their health and be aware of any COVID-19 symptoms. In case of passengers experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as breathing issues, coughing, sneezing, loss of taste or smell, they must immediately consult a doctor to review their health condition. If any Emirati tourist has been tested positive for COVID-19 while holidaying abroad, they are required to immediately visit the nearest emergency centre, while following precautionary measures, and communicate with the UAE mission of the destination country.

Rules for arrivals in the UAE 

According to the ministry, the protocols for returning passengers are similar to those while flying out to a foreign destination. It includes wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, and presenting a negative COVID-19 test report. If a passenger demonstrates any COVID-19 symptoms, they will be isolated and monitored by health authorities at the airport. Further protocols will be undertaken on the basis of health conditions, which may vary depending on whether passengers arrived in the UAE from a medium or high-risk country.

Landing in Dubai

UAE citizens arriving in the country through Dubai airport are exempted from taking the PCR test prior to departure, regardless of the foreign country they are coming from. However, they will be required to take the test on arrival at the Dubai airport.

Landing in Abu Dhabi

Passengers arriving at the Abu Dhabi airport are required to take a PCR test no more than 72 hours before their flight. Furthermore, they will have to undergo a thermal screening and take another COVID-19 PCR test on arrival at Abu Dhabi airport.

According to official figures, Spain, the world's second most popular travel destination after France, registered 83.5 million foreign visitors in the year 2019. Tourist arrivals across the world fell around 74 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, as per the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) data. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the number of foreign tourists visiting Spain dropped by 77 percent compared to 2019. Tourist arrivals in Spain fell below 19 million visitors after the country implemented pandemic-related restrictions on international travel.

KEYWORDS: UAE ministry, COVID-19, pandemic, international travel, Spain, UNWTO, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, COVID-19 protocols, UAE authorities, UAE Citizens