Good News Flights to Dubai: Covid vaccination certificate not required for residents to return

Flights to Dubai: Covid vaccination certificate not required for residents to return

A Covid-19 vaccination certificate is no longer a requirement for those travelling to Dubai from countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
This is specific to travel to Dubai and not other emirates.

On its website, Emirates said all passengers with a valid UAE residence visa are allowed to travel to and through Dubai from the restricted countries, subject to the below conditions:
> Dubai visa holders must apply for pre entry approval through General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

> Passengers must have a valid Covid-19 test certificate issued within 48 hours between the time of sample collection and scheduled flight departure. Only Covid-19 PCR test reports from certified labs that issue a QR code linked to the original report will be accepted.

> Passengers must complete a Covid-19 PCR rapid test four hours before the departure of their flight. Rapid antigen test will not be accepted.

> Passengers must complete a Covid-19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

As Khaleej Times reported yesterday (August 9), Dubai residence visa holders can travel from India to Dubai as long as they have an approval from the GDRFA, in addition to negative Covid test results.

Airline representatives at check-in counters would be checking for these two requirements, and not travellers’ Covid vaccination status.

A top Air India official in the UAE confirmed to Khaleej Times: “As per instructions issued by civil aviation authorities in Dubai, for passengers to disembark in Dubai, only three documents are required. They need to have a GDRFA approval, negative RT-PCR test result taken 48 hours before departure, and a rapid PCR test result from the airport.”

Flights to Abu Dhabi
According to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, passengers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh must have a valid residency and proof of having received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine within the UAE no less than 14 days before travel.

“Unvaccinated people in certain categories eligible to return include medical workers, UAE-based teachers, students, residents with extenuating circumstances, patients undergoing medical treatment in the UAE and employees who work for federal or local government agencies," Etihad said on its website.
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"These latest categories are in addition to previously exempt categories of UAE nationals, diplomatic missions, official delegations and Golden residence holders."

i) Dubai Visa Holders – https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitService.aspx 
Only passengers having Dubai Resident visa and have GDRFA approval are permitted to arrive into Dubai Airport. Passengers having other Emirates Resident Visa are not permitted to arrive into Dubai Airport.
ii)Other VISA holders – https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/registerArrivals

2. Dubai Visa holders: The passenger must receive approval from General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs on or after 5thAugust 2021, after registering through https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitService.aspxO
Other emirates Visa Holders:  The passenger must receive approval after submitting a request through the website of the Federal authority for Identity & Citizenship ( ICA) through https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/registerArrivals 
Travel Requirements for all passengers travelling to UAE:

1. Negative RT-PCR test report having QR code, from authorized laboratories with 48 hours validity from the time of sample collection. For passengers traveling to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, children under the age of 12 and passengers with moderate to severe disabilities are exempted from the test.
2. Rapid PCR test must be done within four hours of departure of the flight at the airport.
3. Undergo a PCR test at the arriving airport. (UAE nationals are exempted.)
4. Passengers may report to the airport 06 hours prior to departure.

Additional requirements for passengers arriving into Ras al-Khaimah Airports:

1. 10 days home quarantine upon arrival
2. PCR test on the 4th and the 8th day after arrival 
3. Adherence to wearing the tracking watch on arrival

Additional requirements for passengers arriving into Abu Dhabi Airports:

1. 12 days quarantine upon arrival
2. PCR test on the 6th and the 11th day after arrival 
3. Wear the tracking medical wristband 
4. Medical follow-up for the arrivals.
5. Regular follow-up for the medical reports of the passengers.

As per Dubai Civil Aviation Authorities, RT-PCR Test done from the laboratories listed below will not be accepted.
1. Suryam Lab in Jaipur
2. Dr P. BHASIN Pathlabs(p) Ltd. in Delhi
3. Noble Diagnostic Centre in Delhi
4. 360 Diagnostic & Health. Services
*Passengers must ensure that they comply with all travel and health requirements of the destination country. If passengers are denied entry, they will have to bear the cost of penalty/ deportation.
All passengers are required to check the UAE Government Authority Website for the latest updates on travel.