Dubai holidays: New Foreign Office advice as UAE travel rules change – can Britons go?
Holidays: Travel expert provides advice on booking trips in 2021
Dubai holidays now face a plethora of strict restrictions. This morning, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued fresh travel advice for the UAE. The new update concerned testing requirements for entry to the Middle Eastern nation.
Dubai FCDO travel advice
Covid testing is needed for entry into the emirate.
“Travellers from the UK to Dubai have the option to either present a negative COVID-19 PCR test on departure which was taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure or to take a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai airport,” explained the FCDO.
“Those tested on arrival will be required to quarantine until they have the results of their COVID-19 PCR test.
We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.
“Travellers may also be tested on arrival in Dubai even if they have had a COVID-19 PCR test before departure.”
“If you test positive for COVID-19 on arrival in Dubai, depending on your symptoms and your accommodation plans, you may be required to self-isolate in a government-led facility, a hospital, your hotel or privately arranged accommodation for at least 10 days.”
The Foreign Office also cautioned: “COVID-19 entry requirements may change at short notice, and travellers to the UAE are strongly encouraged to check the specifics, including the time frames for undertaking COVID-19 PCR tests before departure with their airline before they travel.
“Further details are available on British Airways, Emirates and Etihad websites including information about what these airlines accept as proof of a negative test.”
Dubai is the only destination where tests on arrival are available.
UAE capital Abu Dhabi comes with strict restrictions in particular.
“For the rest of the UAE, all travellers have to undertake a COVID-19 PCR test in the country they are currently in, and have proof of a negative result, before travelling to the UAE,” said the FCDO.
“Those travelling to Abu Dhabi from the UK and certain other countries are required to undertake a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of departure and have a negative result.
“Travellers to Abu Dhabi are also required to have a test on arrival. Further details are available on Etihad Airlines Website.”
Furthermore, the FCDO added: “All arrivals in Abu Dhabi will be required to wear a medically approved wristband for the duration of their quarantine. The wristband will be provided at Abu Dhabi airport after clearing immigration.
“Arrivals under the age of 18, over the age of 60, diplomats or those suffering from a chronic disease will be exempt from having to wear the wristband.”
The authority continued: “If you are transiting through the UAE to a country that requires a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival, then you must obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test before travelling.
“In all circumstances, the test must be a COVID-19 PCR swab test. Other test results including antibody tests are not accepted.”
The FCDO also detailed that residents returning to Dubai still need to get approval before travelling but anyone returning to other parts of the UAE no longer need to do this.
Dubai and the UAE are currently on the travel corridor list so no quarantine is required on return.
However, with the UK in lockdown, Britons are banned from international travel for at least seven weeks.
Source: Read Full Article
