As of 23rd June 2020, citizens and residents of Dubai are permitted to travel abroad, said an announcement made by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management on 20th June. From the emirate, residents can travel to any destination they wish to, provided that the country travelled to will allow them entry.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year, repatriation flights have been flying people back home, and travel for leisure was prohibited. The announcement made by the committee also stated that Dubai would be allowing for tourists from 7th July 2020.
Although border restrictions have been lifted, those wishing to embark on a trip abroad will still have to adhere to the guidelines and safety measures outlined by the countries being travelled to. Some of these safety protocols include curfews, social distancing and periods of self-isolation which can be for 14 days.
Airports have also addressed new rules and etiquettes for travelers, including having to undergo a COVID-19 screening test upon entering the airport. On returning to Dubai, residents will have to enter their details into the COVID-19 DXB Smart App, which will ask them to quarantine at home until their test results are confirmed. Testing positive for the virus would require people to self-isolate for 14 days.
Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management stated, “Residents sharing homes or living in high-density housing will be isolated at an institutional facility if they test positive.”
For any residents of Dubai that have been stranded in other countries since borders closed are now permitted to return to the UAE via any airline and depending on a mandatory approval coordinated between Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and the airline, restrictions on closed borders will be lifted.
Airlines also may refuse any passengers who are displaying symptoms of the virus from boarding their flight, and visitors to Dubai will have to fill out a health declaration form prior to their journey to declare that they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms. Although tourists and visitors will be welcome to the UAE from July 7th, they must meet all the requirements set out for non-residents, have valid health insurance and must download the COVID-19 DXB app to register their details in the health declaration form. They will also need to have a PCR Covid-19 test with a maximum validity of four days ahead of departure and will be subject to thermal screenings upon arrival at the airport.
