In a major development, the UAE authorities have allowed the passengers travelling to the country to carry out a pre-flight COVID-19 test any reputed clinic overseas. As per latest reports, the UAE's federal crisis authority NCEMA (National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority) has announced that travellers arriving in the Emirate can perform a COVID-19 test from any medical facility approved by the government of that country.

However, any traveller, be it, residents, citizens or tourists, must get themselves tested within 96 hours of their flight to the UAE. They must present a negative COVID-19 test result to the airline check-in desk staff at the airport.

Earlier, travellers were required to carry out a test only in UAE-approved clinics affiliated with Pure Health, which is a prominent Gulf testing lab. This regulation caused significant inconvenience to people willing to enter the UAE as they had to travel hundreds of kilometres to reach one of the Pure Health-accredited labs to get themselves tested.

Speaking about the development, NCEMA and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) stated that the new facilities would "expand the approval of the results of medical examinations to include all accredited laboratories by governments in countries around the world".

As per a statement reported by the state news agency WAM, the UAE will be welcoming the return of all residents who are currently residing abroad, given that they adhere to pre-examination before entering the country as directed by the Emirati authorities.

Reportedly, there are only four Pure Health-accredited labs in the UK that are available for a PCR test - two in London, one outside Manchester and another in Bristol. However, there are none in Southern Italy.

Prior to the latest announcement of the federal authorities, Dubai had authorized airlines to accept COVID-19 tests only from National Health Service hospitals and other reputable facilities.

NCEMA reiterated that all passengers travelling to any of the six emirates, excluding Dubai, are required to get themselves registered on the website of CA immigration authority prior to their flights. This will help in ensuring that passengers do not have any troubles during their travel. Meanwhile, Dubai asked its residents to apply to its GDRFA immigration service before planning their return to the country.

All travellers are required to present a negative test result to the airline authorities they are flying with. This will further ensure the health and safety of all other travellers coming to the country. Furthermore, children under the age of 12 or with moderate to severe disabilities have been exempted from PCR testing.

The Emirate has added a long list of testing facilities, most of which are government-run, on their online information portals for passengers travelling to Dubai. Passengers travelling from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can only enter the UAE if they present a negative COVID-19 test certificate from a facility approved by government-approved Pure Health labs. In addition, new passengers coming to the country may also be asked to take a second PCR test at the airport. They will be asked to stay in isolation at a specified residence until the results of their tests are declared. Once the test results are negative, tourists or returning residents will be allowed to leave the quarantine facilities.