New COVID-19 test instructions for passengers to Dubai

Are you a UAE resident? Then you may not need to take a PCR test in advance in case you are flying back home with Emirates airlines. The airline has clarified in its latest update released on October 26, 2020, that passengers arriving from certain countries need to take the PCR test only after arriving in Dubai.

Passengers coming from the following countries have the option of either presenting a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate or take the COVID-19 test on arrival in Dubai:

A

Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan

B

Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria

C

Canada, China

D

Denmark

E

Estonia

F

Finland, France

G

Germany

H

Hong Kong

I

Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy

J

Japan

K

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait

L

Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg

M

Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives Islands, Mauritius

N

Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway

O

Oman

P

Poland, Portugal

S

Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Somaliland, Switzerland, South Sudan, Syria, Sudan

T

Taiwan, Thailand, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, The UK, The USA (Seattle, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, New York)

Transiting passengers from the above-listed countries needn’t present a COVID-19 PCR test certificate unless it’s made mandatory by the passenger’s final destination.

Passengers arriving on Dubai tourist visas from these countries must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate. The certificate must be valid for 96 hours from the test date before departure.  The only exception to this rule is for tourists coming from Germany and the UK. They have the option of taking a PCR test upon arrival in Dubai.

UAE residents arriving from the following countries must take 2 COVID-19 PCR tests. One must be taken before boarding the flight. Such a test must have a validity of 96 hours from the test date. A second PCR test must be done upon arrival in Dubai. The countries are:

A

Argentina, Afghanistan, Angola

B

Bangladesh

C

Chile, Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic

D

Djibouti

E

Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia

G

Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea

H

Hungary

I

India, Iran, Iraq, Israel

J

Jordan

K

Kenya

L

Lebanon

M

Moldova, Malta, Morocco, Montenegro, Myanmar

N

Nepal

P

Pakistan, Philippines

R

Romania, Russia

S

Senegal, Slovakia

T

Turkmenistan, The US (Texas, Florida, California)

U

Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

V

Vietnam

Z

Zambia, Zimbabwe

The official printed PCR test certificate must be in English or Arabic and must be presented at the check-in counter. No digital certificate is accepted.

Among those exempted from taking the COVID-19 test before arriving in Dubai are also children under the age of 12 years. Passengers with moderate or severe disabilities are also granted exemption from the COVID-19 test. UAE nationals need only get tested on arrival in Dubai as they are exempted from the COVID-19 test beforehand.

A list of authorized laboratories around the world is given by Emirates on their website. Passengers can check the list to do the test before coming to Dubai. Any government-approved lab can also be approached to do the PCR test.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Dubai, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

US now proposes not to grant business visa for H-1B jobs

Note:

PCR – Polymerase Chain Reaction