Data Last Updated: December 28, 2020
General Information
Effective August 1, 2020, all citizens, residents, tourists, and transit passengers are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 certificate before arriving into Dubai (DXB) airport. The test must be taken a maximum of 96 hours prior to departure.
Another test will be administered for passengers entering Dubai/U.A.E. via Dubai (DXB) airport and they are advised to quarantine until the test result is available (usually in less than 24 hours).
To enter the emirate/city of Abu Dhabi, another PCR test and mandatory 14 day quarantine period must be undertaken. Passengers departing Dubai (DXB) airport, must also present a PCR test prior to departure as per Emirates airlines.
As of December 24, Abu Dhabi has already reopened its borders for tourism, allowing visitors from the "green list" of countries to enter with no need to quarantine. However, all passengers must undergo a PCR test no longer than 96 hours before departure and show proof of a negative result. Those countries not included on the "green list" can still enter Abu Dhabi, as long as they qualify for a visa on arrival and agree to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine on arrival.
Mask Requirement
Mask is required to be worn in all public indoor, public transport and certain outdoor areas where social distancing is not possible.
Internal Restrictions/Closures
Movement restrictions within Dubai have eased. However, to enter Abu Dhabi, individuals must present a COVID test conducted in the last 48 hours from an approved facility or schedule an appointment for a laser blood test. These regulations may change.
Social-distancing guidelines, requiring people to keep a two-metre distance from others outside homes, must be followed at all times, and masks remain mandatory outdoors.
Restaurants and bars are open under capacity and social distancing limitations and all non-essential businesses and attractions have re-opened.
The UAE Attorney General announced that individuals failing to follow rules and regulations to curb the spread of COVID-19 will face additional fines varying from 1000-100,000 Emirati dirhams.
Wearing masks in the UAE is mandatory for all in public places, public transportation or commercial centers, when walking outside in high-density public areas and in private transportation.
Airlines & Transport
All passengers arriving in Dubai from any destination, including passengers connecting in Dubai, must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate to be accepted on the flight. We recommend you bring a printed certificate, but digital ones are accepted in Dubai. It must be an official certificate - SMS confirmation messages are not accepted. 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.
Emirates Airlines is flying from 40 countries to Dubai and is actively looking to expand these routes as demand increases over the next few weeks.
Status of Opening to Tourists
Information based on tourists place of residence being in that country for the last 14 days
Select Country of Residence
Test Required For Tourists From:
243 Countries
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Congo
Réunion
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos
Tuvalu
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
More Details
Last Updated: October 28, 2020
After several months of closing its borders to curb the spread of Covid-19, Dubai has reopened to tourists once again. Known for its glitzy skyscrapers, balmy beaches, and high-end malls, Dubai is one of the first cities in the Middle East to restart tourism. However, the local government has imposed several travel restrictions for tourists to follow before flying.
Dubai Is the Only City that Has Opened in the UAE
Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Notably, Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital city, is still closed for visitors. Even UAE residents are not yet allowed to enter the capital city unless they provide a negative Covid-19 test result. As of now, Dubai is the only emirate that has opened for tourism.
So if you are planning to visit the grandiose Sheikh Zayed Mosque or the lavish Louvre Museum on your visit to the UAE, you may have to wait a little longer. Abu Dhabi remains closed to the rest of the UAE, and the local government has imposed movement restrictions on its residents.
New Protocols For Tourists Visiting Dubai
As with any country that has opened its doors in a post-COVID-19 world, Dubai has imposed new tourist protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect its visitors and residents. Here are a few requirements for tourists when visiting the desert city.
- Each visitor must have health insurance to cover the medical costs, in case they get sick or infected with the Covid-19 virus. This must be presented upon arrival.
- Tourists are required to download an app for Covid-19 contact tracing. They must register their details into the app.
- A health declaration form must be submitted before flying into Dubai.
- All tourists are required to undergo a coronavirus test within four days (96 hours) of departure. Anyone who cannot provide this test will be asked to undergo a test at the airport.
- Those who will test positive on the Covid-19 test conducted at the airport will be taken to a government facility for 14-day isolation. They will have to shoulder the cost of the quarantine. If the test turned out negative, then there’s no longer a need to isolate, and the tourist can freely enter Dubai for a holiday.
Latest update: Authorities in Dubai have changed the COVID‑19 PCR test requirements for some arriving passengers. Starting October 26, tourists coming from the UK and Germany will have the option to take a COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival. They have also required some travelers that came from certain destinations to undergo a mandatory two-test rule.
What’s Open In Dubai?
Tourism plays a key role in the growth of Dubai's economy. Last year, the glittering commercial capital has welcomed 16.7 million international visitors. In an effort to revive its tourism economy, Dubai has launched several marketing campaigns. The local government has urged tourist attractions to resume operations, with hotels now catering to international guests and offering huge discounts. Museums have opened up and desert adventures have also resumed.
Although there are a few restrictions in place, such as reduced capacity and social distancing rules, generally, Dubai has returned as a tourist destination. Beaches are also opened and waterparks have resumed operations with a strict set of safety guidelines in place.
Latest Update - On September 24, the UAE authorities have started allowing tourists to visit Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates. Each of the emirates has different policies for inbound and outbound passengers. Arrivals into Abu Dhabi will be required to undergo a PCR test and will be given a tracking wristband that they must wear for their entire 14-day quarantine. A second PCR test must be taken on their 12th day of quarantine. When the test result is negative, they can return the wristband to finish isolation.
See the detailed restrictions and live report for the UAE here.
See the full blog post & comments
Information for Non-Tourists
Residents holding Dubai-issued visas are permitted to return to the emirate by pre-booking flights on any airline on the condition that they obtain an approval coordinated between the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) and the airline.
Residents must fill a ‘Health Declaration Form’ before embarking on their journey to confirm they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. The airline has the right to refuse boarding if passengers display any symptoms of COVID-19.
Starting October 5, citizens arriving in Dubai are no longer required to take a PCR test for the coronavirus before leaving the place they are coming from and are only required to take the test on arrival in Dubai.
270,810
Cases776
Deaths27,198
Cases Per Million
Graph of COVID-19 Cases In Last 30 Days
For United Arab Emirates