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COVID-19 | UAE: Enforcement of law to contain the spread of COVID-19

UAE COVID19 ROL
INFORMATION RELATED TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK
Since the end of January 2020, the COVID-19 virus has been present in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE health authorities have imposed a series of measures to curb the spread of the disease, including:
  1. Impact on air connections. After months of no flights, Emirati airlines, especially Etihad and Emirates Airlines, have resumed their activity with an increasing frequency of flights. However, it is still very far from that existing in normal times. The flights can still be canceled if the occupation and the load do not cover the costs that allow their viability; If a flight is canceled, the airline is obliged to relocate passengers to the nearest flight. Regarding international transit, both Etihad in Abu Dhabi and Emirates Airlines in Dubai maintain international routes with a stopover at the airports in those cities. We recommend that you visit the pages of these airlines to check the latest information on the capitals of origin and destination and traffic conditions.
  2. Restriction of entry into the United Arab Emirates. At the moment the emirate of Abu Dhabi is closed to tourism and only admits the entry of resident citizens, while Dubai accepts the arrival of tourists from July 7. In both cases, it is still necessary to present a negative result of the PCR test carried out a maximum of 96 hours before the trip.
Please note: for foreigners residing in the UAE, the Dubai authorities have reintroduced the requirement to obtain a prior entry authorization to return to the country via Dubai.
  • In the case of Dubai, resident foreigners must obtain authorization from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
  • For residents of Abu Dhabi and the rest of the Emirates (Sharjah, Ras al-Khaima, Ajman, Fujaira and Umm-al Qaywayn) the competent authority to issue the pre-travel entry authorization is the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship a through its website.
  ABU DHABI
  • Arrival by plane: After entering Abu Dhabi, the traveler will have to undergo a PCR test at the airport, download the Al Hosn application and keep a mandatory 14-day quarantine. All persons arriving in Abu Dhabi, except those under the age of 18 and over the age of 60, will have an electronic device attached to their wrist for the two weeks of the fortieth. On the 12th after entering Abu Dhabi, a new PCR test must be performed.
  • Arrival by road from Dubai: for travelers arriving by road, in addition to all the measures provided for arrivals by plane, a new PCR test will be mandatory on the sixth day after entering Abu Dhabi.
  In the case of Dubai, travelers will be randomly tested upon arrival at the airport. Those passengers who undergo the PCR test must remain at their homes and hotels until they receive the result. As travel conditions are subject to frequent changes, it is strongly recommended to check directly with the airlines. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
  • Public spaces: Little by little, the reopening of public spaces is taking place, with great differences between the emirates. Public spaces: Little by little the reopening of public spaces is taking place, with great differences between the emirates.
  • Body temperature controls at land, sea and air borders. Body temperature controls at land, sea and air borders.
  • Body temperature controls at the entrance of certain public buildings and, in general, in commercial establishments). Body temperature controls at the entrance of certain public buildings and, in general, in commercial establishments).
  • Recommendation to avoid concentrations of people. Recommendation to avoid concentrations of people.
In October 2018, the UAE health authorities announced that all foreign residents and tourists entering the country must complete an electronic form with the drugs they plan to introduce to obtain the go-ahead. It is recommended to visit the website of the Government of the Emirates with general information and the website of the Ministry of Health of the Emirates with the list of prohibited drugs. They are both in English. More information in the “Health” section below. The UAE Government maintains the prohibition of the entry of Qatari citizens and means of transport into its territory, so flights and maritime connections with that country may be affected. Furthermore, UAE airlines (Emirates, Fly Dubai and Etihad) have suspended their flights to and from Qatar. Therefore, all travelers who may be affected by these circumstances are RECOMMENDED to contact their travel agencies or airlines to ensure any changes or cancellations in their itineraries before embarking on a trip.

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