The UAE national authorities, National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) have updated existing travel protocols in place for citizens travelling to countries on travel curbs list.
The new protocols which will come into effect as of Wednesday, 27th October, aims to encourage the country’s strategy in the recovery phase, enhance the gradual openness in all vital sectors as well as to manage a gradual return to normalcy.
DEPARTURES
The updated protocols allow all fully vaccinated (who have received the mandated number of COVID-19 vaccines to be considered as fully vaccinated) citizens to travel to countries which are on the restricted travel list.
Meanwhile, citizens who have not received the full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are not allowed to travel onto countries which are on the curb list. UAE diplomatic missions, patients, as well as humanitarian cases, and those who are studying abroad on scholarships will be allowed to travel to these countries, given that they have gained prior approvals from the official authorities.
ARRIVALS
UAE citizens returning from countries which are on the curb list are mandated to provide a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result with a QR code for a test conducted within 48 hours from the time of departure along with the result of another Rapid PCR Test that was conducted not more than 6 hours before the departure time at the airport of the destination.
UPDATES FOR NON-CITIZENS
Vaccinated travellers are mandated to go through a PCR test upon arrival. They will have to take two more PCR tests, on the fourth and eighth day since their arrival.
Unvaccinated travellers on the other hand, must take a PCR test upon arrival. They are required to quarantine for 10 days with another test planned for the ninth day since arrival.
DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS
Departing travellers must register in the ‘Tawajudi’ service, upload a negative PCR test result valid for 48 hours and the itinerary, along with adhering to the destination requirements and procedures.
The national entities have advised senior citizens who are above the age of 70 to refrain from travelling to maintain their health and safety.
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