Emirates issues travel advisory for passengers travelling to and from Dubai

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Emirates has issued a travel advisory for its international passengers.

New rules for the emirate’s residents and citizens who wish to travel abroad – and return – entail the following:

Residents travelling to Dubai prior to August 1

• Those who hold a valid Dubai residence visa and are flying back to Dubai, must have a return approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA).
• The passenger must apply for a return approval when he/she books the flight with the carrier [Emirates] online or through its contact centre. Passengers can also complete the application on the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) website before booking the flight.
• During the GDRFA application process, the applicant will be asked to enter the Resident File Number, available on the visa under file.
• Passengers can check the GDRFA website to see the status of their application. For approved applications, an email will be send with a GDRFA reference number. If the application can’t be processed at the time of the request, the applicant can try again after four days.
• Passengers need their GDRFA Application Number to complete their flight booking either online or through the carrier’s call centre.
• Passengers must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate for inbound and transit passengers arriving from: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sudan, Tanzania and USA – Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO), including passengers originating from California, Florida and Texas connecting to an Emirates flight from any of its airports worldwide to Dubai.
• The test must be taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure.
• Passengers without a test certificate will not be accepted on the flight. If the UAE government has specified a designated laboratory in the traveller’s country of origin, then he/she must get the certificate from that lab.
• All travellers to Dubai, including passengers with a connecting flight, must complete the health declaration form and hand it to the staff at check-in. This form will also be available at check-in.
• Travellers need to complete the quarantine undertaking form given on board if Dubai is the final destination. Passengers are expected to hand the form to the Dubai Health Authority staff on arrival.
• Passengers who arrive in Dubai must take a Covid-19 PCR test at the airport, and remain in their residences until the test results are confirmed.
• If the passenger tests positive, he/she will be required to undergo isolation and follow the Dubai Health Authority guidelines, as well as download the Covid-19 – DXB Smart app.

Residents travelling out of Dubai prior to August 1

• Dubai residents do not need government approval to leave Dubai, but require an approval to return.
• Before travel, passengers must check the requirements of the destination country. Passengers may need to take a printed Covid-19 PCR test before departure.
• If the passenger travels out of Dubai and returns, the above listed process will still apply to his/her return journey.

[Note: It is advisable that passengers contact Emirates to know of Covid-19-related requirements prior to travel]

Residents travelling to Dubai on or after August 1, 2020

• Those who hold a valid Dubai residence visa and are flying back to Dubai, must have return approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA).
• Passenger must apply for return approval when he/she books the flight with the carrier online or through its contact centre. Passengers can also complete the application on the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) website before booking the flight.
• During the GDRFA application process, the applicant will be asked to enter the Resident File Number, available on the visa under file.
• Passengers can check the GDRFA website to see the status of their application. For approved applications, an email will be send with a GDRFA reference number. If the application can’t be processed at the time of the request, the applicant can try again after four days.
• Passengers need their GDRFA Application Number to complete their flight booking either online or through the call centre.
• From August 1, 2020, all passengers – including UAE citizens, residents, tourists, and passengers connecting in Dubai – arriving into the emirate from any destination must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate. The test must be taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure.
• Passengers without a test certificate will not be accepted on the flight. Children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability are exempt from this test.
• If the UAE government has specified a designated laboratory in the traveller’s country of origin, then he/she must get the certificate from that lab.
• Passengers may need to take another Covid-19 PCR test on arrival, post which the passenger must remain in his/her residence until receipt of the test result.
• If the passenger tests positive, he/she will be required to undergo isolation and follow the Dubai Health Authority guidelines, as well as download the Covid-19 – DXB Smart app.
• All travellers to Dubai, including passengers with a connecting flight, must complete this health declaration form and give it to the staff at check-in. This form will also be available at check-in.
• Travellers need to complete the quarantine undertaking form given on board if Dubai is the final destination. Passengers are expected to hand over the form to the Dubai Health Authority staff on arrival.

Residents travelling out of Dubai on or after August 1

• Dubai residents do not need government approval to leave Dubai but require an approval to return.
• Before travel, passengers must check the requirements of the destination country. Passengers may need to take a printed Covid-19 PCR test before departure.
• If the passenger travels out of Dubai and returns, the above listed process will still apply to his/her return journey.
• All passengers travelling from Dubai to UK or Europe (and other mandated destinations) will be required to take a Covid-19 PCR test no more than 96 hours before departure and present the test result certificate at check-in.