Regulations announced this week now allow UAE residents to fly to Dubai from any destination. However, depending on the country of origin, travellers are required to seek permission prior to travelling.

This rule extends to cover some countries where travel from was restricted to the UAE earlier this year, due to a surge in number of Covid-19 cases.

From which countries is approval required?

UAE residents returning from 10 countries are required to first seek permission from either the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), if living in Dubai, or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), if they live anywhere else in the country.

The 14 countries from where travel to UAE was previously restricted are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and South Africa.

According to Emirates airline, the 10 countries from which passengers require permission before flying back are:

· Bangladesh

· India

· Nigeria

· Pakistan

· Sri Lanka

· South Africa

· Uganda

· Vietnam

· Zambia

· Indonesia

Permission is not required for UAE residents returning from Nepal, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia.

This rule only applies to the UAE residents and not tourists traveling from these 10 countries.

Do residents have to be vaccinated to fly to Dubai?

Dubai has set its own immigration and coronavirus rules and does not require UAE residents to be vaccinated for returning to the country.

Rules in Abu Dhabi

All incoming passengers are required to register with the ICA before boarding flights and must have the travel approval before flying.

Starting August 27, passengers must submit their details on the ICA smart services before checking in. They will receive a QR code after registration, which is required to board any flight to Abu Dhabi.

The new rules apply to all travellers flying to Abu Dhabi, excluding UAE citizens and travelers transiting directly to another country.

Any passengers flying to the UAE capital and continuing on to Dubai or another emirate must also receive approval from the ICA. Children and infants are not exempt from this regulation and must be registered by parents before traveling. 

Passengers vaccinated outside of the UAE should register and upload documents for approval at least five days before traveling, said Etihad Airways. This is to allow UAE authorities to review their documents for assessing whether they qualify for Alhosn app's Green Pass.

Fully vaccinated people in the UAE are not required to upload vaccine certificates to the platform. All other ICA registration details must be completed.

Rules in other Emirates

Air Arabia said passengers from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka travelling on e-visas must provide proof of receiving vaccine against Covid-19 when flying to Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

They must wait for at least 14 days after receiving the second dose of a UAE approved Covid-19 vaccine . Proof in the form of a vaccination certificate must be provided, and their Alhosn app must be green as well. Registration via ICA is also compulsory before flying.

 The national