Travel Planning Made Simple. Create Your Own Itinerary.
Written by Preetha Manivelan on December 29, 2020 Share on

Dubai – Travel restrictions, COVID travel requirement

Updated as of 1 Dec 2020: As we all know that the pandemic had almost brought air travel to a standstill and affected tourism the most. Now that there has been a movement in the international flights’ resumption and people starting to travel, here is everything about the travel restrictions and requirements that you would need to know before planning your trip to Dubai during the pandemic. I don’t know what can be more exciting than ‘Dubai has opened its borders’. Come on, now check out the article on how to make your post-lockdown Dubai vacation happen.

Dubai opened its doors for tourism on 7th July 2020 and it comes as no surprise that travellers are visiting Dubai even during the pandemic. It is really safe to travel to this amazing city now. But who can go? No matter what purpose you are travelling for, be it a visit visa or tourist visa, you can still enter Dubai as long as you have your return well planned. Let’s now see how.

What’s happening in regards to air travel to Dubai?

Airlines like Wego and Emirates have been operating and increasing its schedule day by day. For any destination for the tourists to enter, earlier it used to be two mandatory things which are tests and quarantines. Now that there have been some relaxations, some countries are not making quarantine mandatory. Not every country would expect you to produce an RT-PCR test report showing COVID negative but Dubai would. If you aren’t carrying one, you would surely be not allowed to enter the UAE. In case, you are only transiting through Dubai, you might or might not need a RT-PCR report unless it’s mandatory at your destination of arrival. Make sure you check the eligibility as it depends on the country you visited.

Why visit Dubai?

Your trip to Dubai pre-pandemic and post-pandemic are not going to be much different except for the safety procedures followed at public places. Shopping malls, public beaches, top attractions, hotels, retails, restaurants, cinemas, a little bit of nightlife and even most religious places have been reopened in Dubai with proper precautionary measures.

Travel requirements to the UAE

  • You should be carrying a COVID negative RT-PCR result from a reputed lab/hospital that’s taken within 96 hours from the date of departure.
  • Even though you carry one, you will still be asked to take one COVID test upon arrival at the UAE which is free of cost.
  • Make sure you fill the health declaration form for the air travel and carry a hard copy of it. E-copies are not accepted.
  • You must also download the COVID19 – DXB Smart App – iOS before departure.
  • A return flight ticket and proof of accommodation is a must.

Visa?

Great news for you! The UAE is currently accepting the visa applications for vacations from India to Dubai. If you are planning to visit from other countries, you might or might not need a visa depending on your nationality. With India, you need one. Get a pre-arranged visa by visiting any of the nearest Dubai visa processing centres with all the necessary documents with travel insurance or do it conveniently online.

Travel restrictions in the country

Emirati nationals, other foreign residents of the UAE are allowed to enter Dubai but most foreign nationals travelling to the country are barred. International tourists including Indians will be allowed to enter only Dubai and Sharjah if they have all the proper requirements that are mentioned above. The restrictions might differ depending on which nationality you belong and is specific to every country. Make sure you check the eligibility.

How to reach Dubai from India?

Airlines like Emirates, Go Air and IndiGo are some of the best options that you can take to reach Dubai from India. You can either choose to land at Dubai Airport or even Sharjah International Airport if you want more options on the flights. But apply for a visa beforehand depending on your duration of stay.

This is everything about visiting the UAE now. If you are waiting to visit Dubai and can’t wait for the pandemic to get over, then plan your holiday immediately by following all the procedures. Trust me, it will be worth it. To plan a trip with Pickyourtrail, check out the website for some amazing Dubai itineraries. Reach out to us via Whatsapp in case you need assistance.

Related Itineraries

Note: The images that are being published here are the author's choice, and the organisation takes no responsibility for their usability.