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If you are planning an escape to (or via) Dubai anytime soon, it’s important to be aware that some important COVID-19 rule changes have recently been imposed. To put it in simple terms, from 1st August 2020, you won’t be allowed to board any flight bound for Dubai unless you can provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result.

In fact, according to the UK Government travel advice, the exact requirements are quite specific:

• “The UAE authorities have stated that with effect from 1 August, all citizens, returning residents, transit passengers and tourists have to undertake a COVID-19 test in the country they are currently in and have a negative result before travelling to the UAE. The test must have been carried out within 96 hours of arrival. The test must be registered and carried out at one of the UAE-approved testing centres that are listed on the COVID-19 Screening Registration website“

It is also the case that you will have to be retested before departure from Dubai too:

“With effect from 1 August, all travellers departing from the UAE to the EU and UK will need to have a negative PCR COVID-19 test result within 96 hours prior to their departure.”

Emirates published the following advice:

“From 1 August 2020 all passengers arriving in Dubai from any destination, including passengers connecting in Dubai, must have a negative COVID-19 test certificate to be accepted on the flight. The test must be taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure. This excludes children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability.”

Bottom line

There are a few things to be aware of here. You’re not just going to need a certificate to get into the country, you’re going to need one even just to transit.

You will also need to take another test before returning to the UK or Europe too, so be sure to factor in a trip to a clinic as part of your last few days in the sun. There are many places doing rapid 5 minute result tests in the UAE so it shouldn’t be too much of a pain. One small advantage for any families is that children under 12 do not need a test.