Residence visa holders travelling to Dubai

Before you travel

All UAE residents can now travel to Dubai without GDRFA or ICA approval except when
travelling from the following countries:

 Bangladesh
 India
 Nigeria
 Pakistan
 Sri Lanka
 South Africa
 Uganda
 Vietnam
 Zambia

Requirements for passengers from these countries and Ethiopia:

 UAE Residence Visa holders must have GDRFA or ICA approval to enter the United
Arab Emirates (UAE). This does not apply to passengers who have other visas, such as
newly issued residence or employment visas, short stay or long stay visa, holders of 10
year UAE Golden visa, Investor or Partner visa, visit visa or visa on arrival. This does not
apply to UAE Residence Visa holders travelling from Ethiopia.
 Passengers arriving from the countries above must present a negative COVID-19 PCR
test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted within 48 hours, validity should be
calculated from time the sample was collected, prior to departure from an approved
health facility.
 Passengers must also present a Rapid PCR test report with a QR code for a test conducted
at the departure airport within six hours of departure.

Passengers travelling from other countries must have a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test
certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.

For passengers travelling to Dubai as their final destination from Nigeria travel is currently not
possible as there is no rapid PCR testing facilities at the airport.

COVID-19 PCR test exemptions:

 All UAE nationals returning to Dubai from any country are exempted from the
pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test requirements but must take a PCR test on arrival.
 Non-UAE national accompanying a first-degree UAE national family member and
domestic workers accompanying a UAE national sponsor are also exempted from the
pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test requirements but must take a PCR test on arrival.
 Children below 12 years old and passengers with moderate to severe disabilities
Requirements for all passengers arriving in 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, except for travel from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia (for which specific requirements are stated above).

The certificate must be a Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test.

Other test certificates including antibody tests, NHS COVID Test certificates, Rapid PCR tests
and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai. Travellers must bring an official printed or
digital certificate in English or Arabic to check in – SMS certificates are not accepted. PCR
certificates in other languages are acceptable if they can be validated at the originating station.

COVID-19 RT-PCR test certificates must be issued by an authorised facility in the passenger's
departure country. Certificates that have already been presented for travel to another destination
can't be used for re-entry even if they are still within the validity period.

For passengers arriving from the following countries, it is mandatory that the COVID-19
RT-PCR report includes a QR code linked to the original report for verification purposes. The
QR code must be presented at check-in and to representatives of the Dubai Health Authority
(DHA) upon arrival in Dubai airports: Indonesia, Sudan, Lebanon, Egypt and Ethiopia.

Indian Nationals with a normal passport who are travelling to or from India via Dubai can
obtain a visa on arrival in Dubai for a maximum stay of 14 days provided they:

 have a visitor visa or a green card issued by the Unites States, or

 a residence visa issued by the United Kingdom or European Union

The visa issued by United States, United Kingdom or European Union has to be valid for a
minimum of 6 months

Test on arrival

Passengers arriving in Dubai from the following countries will be required to take another
COVID-19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International airport:

Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina,

Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Morocco,
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Somaliland,
Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Test exemptions:
  UAE nationals are exempt from taking a COVID-19 PCR test before departing for Dubai.
They must be tested on arrival in Dubai, irrespective if they are holding a valid negative
COVID-19 RT-PCR certificate from the point of origin.
This is also applicable for:
o Passengers accompanying a 1st degree UAE nationals' relative or domestic
workers
o Domestic workers escorting a UAE national sponsor during travel.
 Children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability are
exempt from taking a COVID-19 RT-PCR test.
o Moderate or severe disability includes neurological disorders and intellectual or
developmental disabilities. For example: Acute spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's
disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Ataxia, Autism spectrum, Bell's
palsy, Brain tumours, Cerebral aneurysm, Cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome,
Epilepsy and seizures
o All other passengers, including those who are visually impaired, hearing impaired
or physically challenged must hold a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test certificate
as per the requirements.
 There may be specific test exemptions in your country of origin and final destination.
Please check the requirements before you travel.

COVID-19 testing laboratories:

 The UAE government has specified designated laboratories. You can either use the
recommended laboratories in the list or any trusted and certified laboratories in your
country of origin to get your COVID-19 RT-PCR test.
 If you are flying from India, Pakistan, Nigeria or Bangladesh , you must get your
certificate from one of the labs listed in the designated laboratories document to be
accepted on the flight.

When you arrive

 You may need to take another COVID-19 PCR test on arrival. If you take a test at the
airport, you must remain in your residence until you receive the test result.
 If the test result is positive, you will be required to undergo isolation and follow the
Dubai Health Authority guidelines.
 You must also download the COVID19 – DXB Smart App iOS-Android