The United Arab Emirates have announced that effective July 7, 2020 they will allow foreign visitors into Dubai again provided they can produce/pass a negative PCR test in order to clear immigration.
This makes it possible for foreigners visiting the UAE (Dubai) on business or tourism related trips starting two weeks from now and slowly restarting the hospitality sector in the country.
Just like many if not most other countries the UAE has shut down their borders to foreigners and for a short while also grounded all passenger air traffic including transits since late March.
As the country is in the process of gradually reopening (UAE residents are allowed back in and also leave the country effective tomorrow, June 23 2020) it’s also preparing to welcome back international visitors. So far all media reports exclusively mention Dubai and not Abu Dhabi for the borders to reopen.
Gulf News reports today that there are several hurdles to take in order to clear immigration which includes PCR tests and possible quarantine if the test indicates that someone is infected by the Coronavirus.
Dubai will begin allowing tourists in from July 7, 2020, and citizens and residents can resume outbound travel from June 23, 2020, Dubai Media Office said on Sunday. Here are the new guidelines for air travel, according to Dubai Media Office.
General Guidelines
• Citizens and residents allowed to travel to any foreign destination, according to measures taken by countries regarding foreign arrivals.
• Travelers bear full responsibility for their actions and for checking the COVID-19 situation of the country they wish to visit, as well as self-monitoring any symptoms they may experience.
• All citizens and residents will have to undergo a PCR test upon arrival at Dubai airports.
• Tourists given the option to show their PCR test results (valid for 96 hours) upon their arrival to Dubai or carry out a test at Dubai airports.
• All positive COVID-19 cases will be quarantined for 14 days, with travelers bearing the costs of treatment and isolation.
This is a good thing, it will generally allow arriving tourists to “fast track” their immigration procedure by producing a recent test administered in their home country instead of undergoing the procedure at the airport itself.
The article doesn’t however indicate if the PCR test in Dubai would be charged to the passenger (very likely) and how much the cost of that would be. There is also the “danger” that if this test comes back positive the traveler finds himself in state quarantine and has to bear all costs of that.
Further guidelines including for residents of the UAE say:
RETURN OF DUBAI RESIDENTS FROM JUNE 22, 2020
• Return approvals are carried out by Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs through a direct link with airlines.
• PCR tests are taken at Dubai airports.
• 14-day quarantine imposed for all positive COVID-19 cases.
DUBAI CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS ALLOWED TO TRAVEL ABROAD FROM JUNE 23, 2020
• Citizens and residents allowed to travel to foreign destinations, according to Dubai airports’ official flight schedules and subject to airports being operational at these destinations.
• PCR tests at Dubai airports must be taken upon their return.
• 14-day quarantine imposed for all positive COVID-19 cases.
ENTRY OF VISITORS AND TOURISTS TO DUBAI FROM JULY 7, 2020
• Tourists and visitors allowed to enter, according to Dubai airports’ official flight schedules and subject to airports being operational at their departure destinations.
TRAVEL PROCEDURES FROM COUNTRY OF DEPARTURE:
PCR test not required
• No PCR test required before departure
• Fill out the Health Declaration Form before departure and sign the costs declaration
• Airlines have the right to deny travelers if they display any symptoms of COVID-19.
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES AT DUBAI AIRPORTS:
PCR test required
• PCR test taken upon arrival at Dubai airports
- Ensure arrivals download COVID-19 DXB app
This is a good step, although I’m not sure how pleasant a touristic visit to Dubai will be during the height of summer. At least the option is there and most likely it will be business travelers who take the UAE up on this option to travel again in order to restart commercial activity.
Conclusion
Opening up for tourism is a positive sign and Emirates has already announced that it will ramp up it’s flight schedule again which is a positive sign as well to help the airline getting at least somehow back on their feet (wings).
We have contacted the Abu Dhabi visitors authority to clarify if this rule of being able to visit the UAE would also include the Emirate of Abu Dhabi or if Dubai is the only one that allows travelers back right now. I will update this article once we received a reply.
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