Combatting COVID-19: Dubai amends travel protocols

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis & Disaster Management has announced amendments to travel protocols as part of preventive measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The changes, which come into effect from Sunday, January 31 are applicable to individuals travelling through the different ports of the emirate.

• UAE residents, citizens of Gulf countries, and tourists are required to carry a negative PCR test result, regardless of where they are coming from.
• Travellers from certain high-risk countries will also have to get tested again on arrival in the emirate. (Based on the pandemic situation in those countries)
• UAE citizens will remain exempted from undergoing a PCR test before travelling to Dubai. They are only required to conduct a PCR test on arrival in the emirate.
• The validity period of PCR tests has been reduced from 96 hours to 72 hours.
• Dubai Airports will provide Rapid PCR or Rapid Antigen tests to facilitate travel procedures for passengers departing from Dubai to countries that require these type of pre-travel tests.

#Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis & Disaster Management announces updates to travel protocols effective from Sunday 31 Jan.
• UAE citizens will be required to do a PCR test only on arrival in Dubai regardless of the country they are coming from.https://t.co/UeYHPKTdo5 pic.twitter.com/n4ZTMTozpd

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 27, 2021

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said the updated travel protocols are part of a regular process of revising and optimising precautionary measures based on the latest local, regional and international developments.

They are also aimed at enabling the city to continue serving as a global commercial hub and a bridge for travel and trade between the east and west.