As of February 26, 2022, UAE residents will be able to travel to the UAE without approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP), after UAE-based airlines updated their requirements for inbound passengers.
As of February 25, the requirement for pre-departure PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests for vaccinated passengers who enter the UAE has been scrapped, according to the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA). The UAE had previously ended the requirement for some countries to undergo a Rapid PCR test before departing, before entering the UAE.
Here is all you need to know about the new relaxed COVID-19 travel protocol for UAE residents and tourists.
ICP and GDRFA approval not needed
As per the updates posted on the websites of Emirates airlines, Etihad Airways, and Air India, UAE citizens no longer need to apply for approval with ICP or GDRFA when traveling from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The Emirates airlines’ website states: “All UAE residents can now travel to Dubai without GDRFA or ICP approval.”
Etihad Airways also updated its travel requirements for UAE residents, which do not include any requirement for approval to travel to the UAE. Instead, the website states: “UAE residents with a valid visa who have been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine will be permitted to fly to the UAE. This applies to guests who have been out of the country for more than six months.”
In addition to the official announcements by Etihad and Emirates, India’s official airline carrier Air India also confirmed that UAE residents are no longer required to obtain a GDRFA or ICP approval.
PCR tests are not required for fully vaccinated passengers
If you are fully vaccinated and traveling to the UAE, a negative PCR test result is no longer required.
However, unvaccinated passengers must present a negative PCR test result within 48 hours of the departure time of their flight. The NCEMA announced this on February 25.
Which vaccine certificates are accepted?
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UAE have approved the COVID-19 vaccine, which must be accompanied by a vaccine certificate with a readable QR code.
According to NCEMA’s announcement, Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways have also updated their travel requirements for passengers coming to the UAE.
Emirates airlines’ website states that you must meet any one of the following requirements in order to fly to Dubai:
- Provide a valid vaccination certificate indicating that you have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the WHO or the UAE. The vaccine must have a QR code.
- Present a negative COVID 19 PCR test certificate issued within 48 hours of your flight’s departure time. A QR code must be included on the certificate if it is issued by an approved health service provider.
- Present a valid medical certificate with a QR code issued by the relevant authorities that you recovered from COVID 19 within one month of the recovery date.
Etihad Airways states on their website that a negative PCR test result is not required if you are fully vaccinated or:
- You have a COVID-19 recovery certificate with a QR code dated within 30 days of departure.
- You are under 16 years old.
When do I need a PCR test?
According to the Etihad Airways website, you need to take a PCR 48 hours before traveling if you are:
- Not fully vaccinated and do not possess a COVID-19 recovery certificate.
- You must take a test when you arrive at your final destination if you are transiting in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the website recommends that passengers take their PCR test at an accredited facility and ensure that it has a QR code.
Note: Passengers flying into the UAE are subject to these rules. Outbound passengers from the UAE traveling to other countries have different COVID-19 health protocols. Before you plan to travel, you should check the PCR test and vaccination requirements for your final destination.
UAE ends rapid PCR testing for vaccinated passengers from some countries
Dubai and Sharjah airports earlier announced that, in addition to eliminating the need for ICP and GDRFA approval as well as 48-hour PCR test requirements, passengers from the following countries are no longer required to take a rapid PCR test at the airport six hours before departure:
- India
- Pakistan
- Kenya
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- Uganda