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Updated 24 September 2021
Through its combination of strict measures, swift vaccination drive, and a high testing rate, many rightfully regard the UAE as one of the countries with the most exceptional performance in dealing with the pandemic.
As for the country’s quarantine measures for arrivals, they differ depending on which emirates travellers are looking to visit. Here is a complete guide of the latest quarantine guidelines being implemented for international visitors and returning residents alike.
Table of Contents
Dubai
All passengers travelling to Dubai from any point of origin (GCC countries included) must hold a negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure
Please note that expatriate residents and tourists arriving from the following countries must take another COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival.
Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Poland, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Somaliland, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe.
Those required to take the on-arrival test must then remain in their hotel or residence until their test results have been received. Should the test is positive, travellers are required to serve further and comply with the instructions of the Dubai Health Authority. Travellers with negative test results will not be required to serve quarantine.
Citizens of the UAE are not required to obtain a pre-departure PCR test regardless of which country or city they’re travelling from. However, citizens will be tested upon arrival.
Arrivals from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia
Passengers arriving from the above countries must follow specific protocols:
- A valid negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted within 48 hours, validity should be calculated from the time the sample was collected, prior to departure from an approved health facility
- A rapid PCR test report with a QR code for a test conducted at the departure airport within six hours of departure
For passengers travelling to Dubai as their final destination from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) and Zambia, travel is currently not possible as there are no rapid PCR testing facilities at the airport.
Abu Dhabi
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From September 5, travellers won’t need to quarantine on arrival in Abu Dhabi if they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or if they are travelling from a ‘Green List’ country.
Abu Dhabi green list of countries is as follows:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- China
- Comoros
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong (SAR)
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Luxembourg
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Republic of Ireland
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan, Province of China
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
Abu Dhabi has also established quarantine-free travel corridors for fully vaccinated travellers (final dose received at least 28 days before travel) with:
- Bahrain
- Greece
- Serbia
- Seychelles
Guidelines for vaccinated passengers
- If you are coming from green countries, you do not need to quarantine yourself. However, you will need to do an RT-PCR test on arrival and on day 6 from arrival.
- If you are coming from other countries, you do not need to quarantine yourself. You will need to do an RT-PCR test on arrival, day 4 and day 8 from arrival.
To be fully vaccinated, you must have received two doses of the same vaccine at least 14 days before departure. Information about the vaccine must be documented on the Al Hosn app.
Guidelines for non-vaccinated passengers
- If you are coming from green countries, you do not need to quarantine yourself. However, you will need to do an RT-PCR test on arrival, days 6 and 9 from arrival.
- If you are coming from other countries, you must quarantine yourself for 10 days. Additionally, you will need to do an RT-PCR test on arrival and on day 9 from arrival.
If you have arrived from a country that the UAE authorities deem are high-risk, then you will be subject to quarantine at a government facility.
Sharjah
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Expatriate residents and visitors to the UAE are required to present a negative PCR test result at the departure airport. As per the latest rules, the test results must have been issued within 72 hours before departing to Sharjah.
Upon arrival, residents and visitors must take another RT-PCR test at Sharjah’s airport and remain in quarantine until the results have been known. A positive result means 14-day isolation and compliance with the instructions provided by the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
Ras al Khaimah
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Travellers to Ras al Khaimah (RAK) must take a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the flight departure time from approved medical facilities. UAE nationals and children below 12 years of age are exempt from the test.
Once travellers have arrived in RAK, they are required to download the Alhosn app, take another covid-19 PCR test and remain in quarantine until the test results have been known. A negative test result will mean the end of quarantine, while those testing positive will have to isolate themselves for 14 days as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
