Qatar adds UAE, UK to travel red list

Qatar has added the UAE and the UK to its travel red list, effective Monday, November 15.

There are now a total of 21 countries on that red list including: Barbados, Brunei Darussalam, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Iran, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Montenegro, Palestine, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, Syria, Turkey, the UK and the UAE.

There are separate rules that apply to arrivals depending on whether they are citizens, GCC citizens, residents, or visitors, and also contingent  on the vaccination status of the arrivals (the list of approved vaccines in Qatar are Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Jansen, while the conditionally approved vaccines are Sinopharm, Sinovac and Sputnik V.)

According to the country’s Ministry of Public Health, the following are the travel restrictions that apply to those travelling to Qatar from red list countries.

MOPH Publishes Updated Lists Of Countries Based on Categorization of COVID-19 Risk

The new lists come into effect on Monday 15 November at 12pm.https://t.co/DOTCyk9TOr

— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) November 12, 2021

For citizens, GCC citizens and residents of Qatar:
Vaccinated travellers: Travelers aged 12 years and above who are fully vaccinated by a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health are exempt from quarantine requirements.

Prior to arrival, all passengers must undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before they arrive in Qatar.

Additionally, they must undertake a PCR test within 36 hours after they arrive at a Primary Health Care Corporation health center or a private clinic/hospital.

Unvaccinated travellers: The following categories of unvaccinated passengers, including those who have not received all doses of the vaccine, will be subject to home quarantine for seven days:
• Travelers aged 12 years and above.
• Children aged 11 years and below.
• GCC citizens (non-residents) coming to stay with first-degree relatives residing in Qatar (on the condition that they provide proof of the relationship and national address data).

All unvaccinated travellers must undergo a PCR test and obtain a negative result 72 hours prior to their arrival in Qatar. After arrival, a PCR test is required on the sixth day of quarantine and the individual will be released on the seventh day if the result of is negative. Citizens and residents must undergo the testing in a Primary Health Care Corporation health center or a private clinic/hospital. GCC citizens (non-residents) must undergo the testing at a private clinic/hospital licensed by the Ministry of Public Health.

Visitors to Qatar:
Vaccinated visitors: The following rules apply to fully vaccinated visitors who have received a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

The following categories will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days or until the test result appears:
• Travelers aged 12 and above.
• Children aged 11 years and below (non-vaccinated) accompanied by or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.

The following categories will be subject to home quarantine for two days or until the test result appears:
• First-degree relatives, including children less than (18) years of age arriving to Qatar.

Vaccinated visitors must undergo a PCR test and obtain a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar. Also, they must undergo another PCR test on arrival at the quarantine hotel.

Unvaccinated visitors: The following individuals will be subject to home quarantine for seven days:
• First-degree relatives, including children under the age of 18 (pre-issued family visas).

The following individuals will be subject to hotel quarantine for seven days:
• Holders of all types of visas except (pre-issued family visas).

Unvaccinated visitors must undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar. After arrival, they are required to take a PCR test on the sixth day of quarantine and will be released on the seventh day if the result of the Covid-19 test is negative.