UAE authorities have eased certain travel rules to promote rapid return of residents stranded in foreign countries. With effect from September 12, fully-vaccinated valid residence visa holders, stranded in any country in the suspended list for over six months, can return to the UAE through a new entry permit. They can also rectify their status after entry to the UAE. It is important for passengers to be fully vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccines only.

These relaxations are also applicable to non-Dubai visa holders, noting that the emirate of Dubai earlier eased its rules regarding the arrival of its residents.

As per the latest rules, passengers returning from countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal are not required to show their COVID-19 vaccination certificate upon arrival to the UAE. Dubai authorities have also extended residence visas of expats stranded abroad if their visas expired after April 20, 2021.

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) recently issued revised rules allowing the entry of all vaccinated residents to the UAE from previously restricted countries. According to a joint statement by both authorities, the decision covers all vaccinated passengers arriving from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

With these updated protocols, residence visa holders can easily travel to the UAE From the listed countries, without the need of vaccination in the emirates.

Applying for new permit

It is important for arriving passengers to apply for a new permit through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship's (ICA) website and complete the vaccination application to receive necessary approvals. They must present the approved vaccination certification upon their departure from foreign destinations for the UAE.

Before departure, they must also present a negative PCR test result conducted within 48 hours before boarding the flight. The test must be conducted at an approved lab and the result must have a valid QR code.

Furthermore, passengers will be required to undertake a Rapid PCR test before boarding the flight. Upon arrival in the UAE, passengers are needed to take PCR tests on days 4 and 8 of their stay in the emirates. They must also adhere to all necessary precautionary measures placed by relevant authorities to maintain the health and wellbeing of all community members.

Furthermore, children under the age of 16 are exempted from these procedures.

People fully vaccinated with any WHO-approved vaccines can enter the UAE in accordance with the new entry permit. It also includes those passengers who have been staying in any one of the countries in the suspended list for over six months since suspension announcement was made for that country.

Meanwhile, all previously announced precautionary measures for unvaccinated people seeking to enter from those countries continue to remain in place.