Foreign nationals possessing residency visas issued in Dubai can return to the emirate starting Monday, June 22
Dubai has released a new set of protocols that all residents and citizens travelling into or out of the emirate must abide by, besides also confirming that tourists will be allowed to return to Dubai starting July 7.
The new directives announced on Sunday night were issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, and the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management led by Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The committee said that foreign nationals possessing residency visas issued in Dubai can return to the emirate beginning Monday, June 22.
Under the directives of @HHShkMohd, and follow-up of @HamdanMohammed Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announces new air travel protocols for #Dubai citizens, residents and visitors. pic.twitter.com/UZmT8UBwXs
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 21, 2020
It will also allow citizens and residents to travel to any foreign country starting Tuesday, June 23, provided the destination countries agree to receive them, Dubai Media Office confirmed in a press statement.
Guideline for returning UAE residents
Residents holding Dubai-issued visas are permitted to return to the emirate from June 22 via pre-booking flights on any airline on the condition that they obtain an approval coordinated between the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) and the airline.
Residents must fill a ‘Health Declaration Form’ before embarking on their journey to confirm they do not have Covid-19 symptoms.
The airline has the right to refuse boarding if the passenger displays any Covid-19 symptoms.
Upon arrival at Dubai airports, all residents will have to undergo a PCR test to screen for Covid-19.
They should register their complete details in the Covid-19 DXB smart app available online on arrival and before leaving the terminal.
Those residents entering Dubai should not leave their house until they receive their Covid-19 test result.
If they test positive, they will have to isolate themselves at home for 14 days.
Residents sharing homes or living in high-density housing facilities will be isolated at an institutional facility if they test positive.
The resident’s employer should make arrangements for the isolation facility in accordance with guidelines approved by the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre or bear the costs of a paid isolation facility provided by the government.
Guidelines for citizens and residents travelling abroad
There will be no restrictions on the overseas destinations that citizens and residents can travel to starting June 23.
This is a sharp departure from a government announcement made last week whereby a spokesperson for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said that all countries would be classified into three categories: low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk, with travel to high-risk nations banned.
However, travellers are required to fill in a ‘Health Declaration Form’ before embarking to confirm they do not have any Covid-19 symptoms.
They must also comply with guidelines and protocols followed in the countries they are travelling to.
#Dubai to welcome returning residents from tomorrow, citizens and residents permitted to travel overseas from 23 June 2020.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 21, 2020
The airline has the right to refuse boarding if these travellers display any Covid-19 symptoms.
Upon their return to Dubai, citizens and residents will have to undergo a PCR test at the airport.
They must register their details on the Covid-19 DXB app and must agree to confine themselves at home until their test results are available.
In case they are Covid-19 positive, they must isolate themselves for 14 days and adhere to all guidelines and measures outlined by the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre.
Guidelines for international tourists
International tourists travelling by air to Dubai must ensure they meet all requirements for entry to the UAE.
They will need to download the Covid-19 DXB app and register their details on it to facilitate communication with health authorities if they experience Covid-19 symptoms.
#Dubai to welcome tourists from 7 July 2020; tourists required to present recent COVID-19 negative certificate or undergo testing at Dubai airports.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 21, 2020
In addition to filling the ‘Health Declaration Form’ before embarking, they should ensure they have a valid health insurance before they enter the UAE.
The airline has the right to refuse boarding at the airport of departure if these tourists display any Covid-19 symptoms.
Tourists must undergo a PCR test with a maximum validity of four days (96 hours) ahead of the date of departure.
They will be required to show proof of not being infected with the virus on arrival at Dubai airports.
If they cannot provide this proof, they will undergo a PCR test at the airport.
All arrivals will be subject to thermal screenings.
If a traveller is suspected to have Covid-19 symptoms, Dubai airports have the right to re-test to ensure the tourist is free of the virus.
It is mandatory for tourists who test positive for Covid-19 to register their details on the Covid-19 DXB app and isolate themselves at an institutional facility provided by the government for 14 days at their own expense.
Furthermore, the committee added that all positive Covid-19 cases should strictly adhere to the measures outlined by the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre.
Responsibilities of all passengers
The committee stressed that travellers should commit to meeting their responsibilities to ensure their safety as well as that of others.
It said that comprehensive precautionary measures previously announced will continue to be implemented in Dubai.
The committee also stated that compliance with travel measures is critical to prevent delays in completing check-in and boarding procedures.
Air travel protocols, conditions and preventive measures for citizens, residents and tourists can be viewed on the websites of all airlines operating out of Dubai airports, including that of Emirates and flydubai.
.@HHAhmedBinSaeed: “#Dubai’s new air travel protocols strengthen economy and enable national carriers to reinforce global leadership”https://t.co/38MBvJUXix pic.twitter.com/n3opDCHUnX
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 21, 2020
Shortly after the announcement by the Dubai government, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of flydubai, welcomed the latest decision and added: “The new protocols have been adopted after a detailed evaluation of the situation, both domestically and globally, and ensuring readiness to deal with all possible scenarios. The move comes at a time when the world is preparing to resume economic activities across sectors. Travel and tourism are among the key industries at the forefront of spurring global economic recovery. Our airports and national carriers are resuming larger scale operations by stringently implementing globally benchmarked precautionary and preventive measures that protect the health and safety of travellers.”
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