Photographed by Domen / Van De Velde for Vogue Arabia, December 2018.
Passengers arriving in Dubai from GCC countries are no longer required to take a pre-flight coronavirus PCR test.
The revisal in travel regulations was issued by the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre, where a subsequent statement was released by Dubai Airports on Sunday announcing that “effective from December 6, all passengers arriving from GCC countries are not required to conduct PCR test before arriving at DXB/DWC [Dubai International Airport/Al Maktoum International Airport].”
Now, passengers arriving from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman are only required to undergo a “PCR test on arrival only.” The updates were also posted on Emirates Airlines’ website, which confirmed the new travel regulations and the complimentary PCR tests that will be available on arrival at Dubai International Airport.
“All passengers arriving in Dubai from [Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman] are not required to take a Covid‑19 PCR test prior to departure. You can opt to do the test on arrival at Dubai International Airport,” Emirates Airlines’ website states. ”This is not applicable to passengers arriving by road through the Hatta border, who must take the PCR test 96 hours from the date of the test before departure.”
Similar updates were also posted by Fly Dubai, which noted that passengers “will also need to download the Covid19 DXB Smart App and register with the Dubai Health Authority prior to arrival in Dubai.” Fly Dubai also stated that those opting to undergo a PCR test on arrival in Dubai must isolate until they receive their results, and quarantine for 14 days if they test positive.
However, despite the new regulations, passengers will still have the option of taking the test before their flight departure, and those traveling into Dubai by road must still take the PCR test a maximum of 96 hours from the date of the test before departure.
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