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Updated April 2023

The UAE authorities have outlined certain rules and requirements for international travellers wishing to enter the UAE, and most of the entry restrictions have been relaxed. However, due to a sudden outbreak of the Marburg virus, the UAE has now issued a travel advisory for citizens.

Here, we’ve rounded up all the latest UAE travel rules and requirements you need to fulfil before flying out to the UAE.

Table of Contents

Travel rules for tourists

Travellers travelling to Dubai from all countries (GCC included) are no longer required to present a COVID‑19 vaccination certificate or perform PCR tests.

Please note that travellers travelling from or through Dubai are only required to comply with the transit requirements and travel requirements of their final destination.

Travel rules for UAE citizens

Marburg virus travel advisory

The UAE citizens are no longer required to present a COVID‑19 vaccination certificate or perform PCR tests. However, due to a sudden outbreak of the Marburg virus, the UAE has now issued a travel advisory for citizens.

The foreign ministry in the UAE has now urged citizens to postpone travel to Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania and has called on citizens who are living or are on a visit to the two nations to take precautions and follow the safety instructions issued by the competent authorities.

Covid-19 travel advisory

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has issued a new set of guidelines for UAE residents travelling out of the country:

Before travelling

check the Covid-19 stats (situation) in areas where the new variant spreads and travel only if necessary.
vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, diabetics, and those with cardiovascular diseases must avoid travelling to areas where the virus spreads unless necessary.
complete the recommended doses of the vaccine

While travelling

wash your hands regularly (with soap and water or sanitisers with 70 per cent alcohol)
maintain physical distance from others.
avoid crowded places
consult your doctor immediately if you feel sick.
comply with local Covid-19 guidelines for travelling, transportation and gatherings.
wearing a face mask after boarding a flight is no longer a governmental requirement, and is now left to airlines to enforce it onboard.

After travelling

As the daily infections continue to decline and COVID-19 deaths remain virtually zero, the UAE has eased most of the COVID-19 restrictions in the country starting 07 November 2022

Here are a few changes that you must know of:

a green pass is not required to enter public facilities and sites
Al Hosn App use will be limited to proof of vaccination and test results inside and outside the country upon request
wearing masks will be optional in all open and closed facilities, and masks will remain mandatory in health facilities and centres for people of determination.
COVID-19 PCR testing and treatment health facilities will continue to operate per usual
praying on personal mats will be optional at mosques and praying facilities.
organizing bodies at the national and local levels may request pre-examinations or vaccination certificates according to the type or importance of the activity
a five-days isolation period for those infected with COVID-19 will still be implemented.

General entry rules

No GDRFA and ICA approval needed

GDRFA and ICA approval has been scrapped for all residents and tourists travelling to the UAE.

GDRFA and ICA Approval Scrapped for All Residents Travelling to the UAE

UAE residents from all over the globe can now travel to the Emirates without pre-travel or registration on GDRFA or ICA portal.

Testing and quarantine requirements

Covid-19

Both testing and quarantine requirements in the UAE have been done for Covid-19 away with. Travellers travelling to the UAE from all countries (GCC included) are no longer required to present a COVID‑19 vaccination certificate or perform PCR tests, or undergo quarantine.

Marburg virus

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has now urged UAE residents who have travelled to two countries, that is, Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, where cases of the Marburg virus disease have been reported, to isolate themselves on returning to the UAE.

Furthermore, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has also recommended that travellers seek medical attention at the nearest health facility or emergency departments within hospitals. Moreover, those displaying symptoms of haemorrhagic fever for more than 21 days have also been urged to seek medical help.

For more information regarding the Marburg virus in the UAE, refer to our dedicated article below.

The Marburg Virus in UAE: Latest Travel Restrictions and Precautions to Know

Transit passengers

Transiting passengers are not required to present a COVID-19-PCR test certificate unless it is mandated by their final destination.

Download and install the Al Hosn app

To properly confirm their test and vaccination status, travellers can download and instal the Al Hosn app on their mobile devices.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has upgraded the Al Hosn app with a colour-coded system allowing users to promptly display their vaccination status and their latest PCR test results. A ‘green pass’ status means that a traveller is fully vaccinated and has a valid PCR test result.

Al Hosn App for Tourists: Guide for Securing the Green Pass for Tourists

The green pass will now remain green for vaccinated individuals 30 days after a negative PCR test instead of the earlier 14 days. Meanwhile, unvaccinated individuals must get a PCR test every 7 days to retain the pass. The green pass is also mandatory for entry to federal government offices and some public places in Abu Dhabi.