Do you have any plans to visit the UAE soon? If that’s the case, you might be asking if you need to take a PCR test and if there are any other COVID-19 entry requirements.
With the UAE’s authorities changing entry rules in recent weeks, here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know:
Emirati and GCC citizens can enter using ID cards
On April 29, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) stated that Emirati and GCC individuals will no longer be required to produce their passports while entering the UAE.
Fully vaccinated passengers do not need a PCR test
Completely vaccinated passengers must provide a valid vaccination certificate(s) with a QR code beginning February 26, 2022, indicating that they have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the WHO or the UAE.
Unvaccinated passengers coming into the UAE
If you are a visitor or resident of the UAE who is not completely vaccinated, you must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate with a QR code issued by an approved health service provider within 48 hours of the sample being collected.
Test certificates provided through SMS are not accepted, and the PCR test result must have a legible QR code, according to Emirates Airlines’ website. It is crucial to note that the regulations and requirements for admission at the ultimate destination will apply to transit travelers.
Unvaccinated passengers under the age of 16
Passengers under the age of 16 who arrive in the UAE unvaccinated are excused from showing a negative PCR test result upon arrival.
NCEMA, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of these passengers following all preventive and precautionary measures in place in the country.
COVID-19 PCR test and vaccination exemptions
- Children under the age of 12.
- Passengers with disabilities ranging from mild to severe:
– Neurological illnesses and intellectual or developmental disabilities are examples of moderate or severe disabilities. Acute spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Ataxia, Autism spectrum, Bell’s palsy, Brain tumors, Cerebral aneurysm, Cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, and seizures are only a few of the conditions that can cause seizures.
– All other passengers, including those who are blind, deaf, or physically handicapped, must have a COVID-19 RT PCR test certificate that is negative, as required.