As I have recently returned to the UAE as a resident, I have received many email queries about the entry requirements. Here are the up-to-date entry and transit procedures for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. I have also included a list of locations of where to go to get COVID PCR Tests.
Dubai Arrival and Transit Procedures
The below is the same if you are traveling on any airlines to Dubai regardless of if you are flying on Emirates or any foreign airlines.
- 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.
- The UAE government has specified designated laboratories. If you are flying from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, you must get your certificate from one of these labs. If you are flying from any other country, you can either use the recommended laboratories in the same document or any trusted and certified laboratories in your country of origin.
- 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 hotel or 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.
- All travellers to Dubai, including passengers with a connecting flight, must complete this health declaration form and give it to the staff at check-in. This form will also be available at check-in.
- You will also need to complete the quarantine undertaking form given to you on board if Dubai is your final destination. Hand this form to the Dubai Health Authority staff on arrival.
Tourist Can Only Arrive In Dubai
Please note currently if you’re a tourist, you can only enter via Dubai.
Restrictions on the movement of people from other Emirates into Abu Dhabi has been lifted. However, if travelling into Abu Dhabi by road you must have a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued within the last 48 hours.
Departing from Dubai
- All passengers traveling from Dubai to UK or Europe (and other mandated destinations) will be required to take a COVID-19 PCR test no more than 96 hours before departure and present the test result certificate at check-in.
- Before you travel, please check the requirements of the country you are traveling to. You may need to take a printed COVID-19 PCR test before you depart.
List of locations in Dubai For PCR Test
I recommend the drive in COVID PCR Test at Dubai Festival City located at Festival City Mall, near Crescent Drive. No reservation is needed. When I did mine, it took just 5 minutes with no queue. The Cost was 330 Dhs. Click here for more info to book.
Al Nasr Club, Oud Metha Road (Close to Ismaili Centre Dubai)
Sunday to Thursday, 08:00 to 18:30
To book: call DHA on 800 342 on book online.
You can also get COVID-19 PCR test with Al Futtaim Health Hub at following location:
- Al Qusais Ground Floor, 8777 Manazel Deira Building, Al Nahda Street, Al Qusais 2
- Silicon Oasis Lynx Tower, No. 6, Silicon Oasis
- Discovery Gardens Zen Cluster, Building 6, Street 1 A, Discovery Gardens. Next to Dubai Driving Centre
- Al Warqa, Mushroom Building No. 3, Al Warqa 1
- International City, Warsan Building, Opposite T01 Spain Cluster
Abu Dhabi Arrival Procedures
You will only be permitted to enter the UAE via Abu Dhabi if you are a UAE national or resident with a valid visa. All other visa types, including tourist visas, are unable to enter via Abu Dhabi. Seamen are permitted entry.
If you are a UAE resident, you no longer require ICA approval to return to Abu Dhabi. Before you book your flight, you are encouraged to visit uaeentry.ica.gov.ae. Please submit your passport number and Emirates ID number to receive instant verification of your UAE entry status – this will be based on your UAE residence visa validity.
You must also take a photocopy of your passport and UAE resident visa, as you’ll need to present this when you arrive in Abu Dhabi.
You will need to undergo thermal screening and COVID-19 PCR testing when you land at Abu Dhabi airport, this will take some time to complete. This applies to all guests, excluding children under 12.
You can use Abu Dhabi airport even if you are from another emirate such as Dubai or Sharjah. If you are travelling from another emirate to reach Abu Dhabi airport, you must present a negative COVID-19 test before you will be permitted to enter Abu Dhabi. The test must be valid within 48 hours.
Transit in Abu Dhabi
It is mandatory to have a COVID-19 PCR test before you fly with Etihad Airways – you will only be permitted to fly if you have a negative test result.
Your test must be carried out a maximum of 96 hours before your flight departure time at any government accredited medical facility. Timings will differ if you are flying from China or the USA. Passengers departing Pakistan and India must use an Etihad approved medical facility. Enter your departure city here to find out more.
Children under 12 and people with mild and severe disabilities are exempt from COVID-19 PCR testing. This may vary by destination – always check before you fly.
Remember to print your test results and keep them with you throughout your trip – you will be required to present your result for validation at check-in.
The maximum connection time in Abu Dhabi is six hours. If the time between your connecting flights exceeds six hours, you will not be permitted to check in.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, limited Duty Free and food and beverage options are available in Abu Dhabi. The Etihad Business Class Lounge is open in Terminal 3, but all other lounges remain closed.
Hi Sam
I have Abu Dhabi resident visa, Can I land in Dubai?
yes
Hii ,
My family has Visit visa of Abu dhabi so they can go from Abudhabi international airport to India ?
Hi Sam
I am from India I am flying for Vienna Austria I have European visa my con ting flight is from India to abbu dhabi on 25the march 2021 then 7house layover in Abu dhabi then water airways for Europe may I know transit visa is required for me or not. Please
Hu sir
i have dudai visiting visa can i travell abudhabi
Hello!
I am travelling from Bucharest, Romania to Dubai on 14th of April as a vaccinated tourist and my flight back is on 18th of April from Abu Dhabi airport.
I want to mention I will spend my entire trip in Dubai
Do you know if I can enter on 18th of April in Abu Dhabi with a PCR test and going straight to airport or they will send me to quarantine?
Thank you in advance!
No requirement of quarantine if you’re flying out of AUH from Dubai.
Hi sir, I have one doubt, now I am in india, I planning to return UAE , My visa Dubai visa , but I want to go Abu Dhabi Airport. If possible to go Dubai visa holders in Abu Dhabi Airport from india. Please reply me sir. Thanks you
Can a Dubai visa holder (resident) fly through Abu Dhabi airport to India/?
Yes
Hi sam im jay from philippines i just want to know.
For ICA approval.i do have a valid visa and resident of abu dhabi.i will fly back to auh thia coming nov.21,2020
Just worried coz until now the ICA didnt give me any green tick and as ive heard they are also looking for API(advance passenger information)
I do have my round trip ticket also..
I hope you can give me advices thank you
Pls check with the airline for their latest requirements. The post I posted may be outdated.
Hey Sam,
Thanks for the detailed information. Really appreciate your efforts.
I have question. Can passengers from India transit via Dubai without UAE visa? I was not able to get an answer from Amer Dubai
Thanks a lot
I came to india on 1 match i m holding abudhabi visa. Problem is my visa expire 25 may 2020.i want to go back, can i go?
Abu Dhabi has cancelled all previously issued visit visas. Resident Visa are still valid.
i am a holder of Abu dhabi residency, planning to land in dubai, stay for one week. meanwhile i want to visit Abu dhabi for 2 hours to see a relative then go back to dubai. is this possible or shall i need 14 days quarentine in Abu dhabi.
This is not clear on the authority side.
i have the same issue that my parents wants to come in uae on visit visa,
currently i am living in abu dhabi so they will come on visit visa in dubai and then i will take them by road,
anybody knows the procedures what will be for me and for them also ?
and how to get appointment for covid-19 pcr test for me and for them ?
and if we go directly from dubai to abu dhabi boarder they will conduct our test without appoinment ? and after that i need to stay in dubai and wait for result or i will go abu dhabi after conducting the test ? because very next day i need to join my office in abu dhabi ??
please advice me clearly .
Thanks.
Pls see this updated post:
https://samchui.com/2020/10/05/updated-flying-emirates-to-dubai-and-transit-dubai-requirements/
I want to know If I can transit through Abudhabi with two different airlines atm?
Good day sir
I just want to ask if my visa is still valid I was suppose to travel 1st of April before they announce 1st phase of the lockdown….I was suppose to travel with Etihad Airline
Hi my family is coming oct 25 2020 on visit visa frome Dubai to abudhabi plz update me procces
Sir
I want to ask from u that Dubai visit visa holder can land in Abu dahbi because I want to bring my family from Pakistan if yes then onliy COVID-19 test required
Highly valuable info, thank you for sharing.
I have a small doubt, say if I travel on November 1st from India to Dubai on a Visit Visa(issued in Dubai), can I enter Abu Dhabi from Dubai on road? Are Visit visa holders allowed to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
What is the current Status with respect to the same. I did try looking out for info, but all were atleast a Month old. Was wondering what is the current update/status.
Thank you.
You can enter Abu Dhabi from Dubai by road, but at the moment you need a negative covid test.
From yesterday 24.09.2020, i came to know that Abu Dhabi has started giving New Entry Permits and Tourist Visa and only Work Permits are still on hold. So, in that case if any FAMILY has already arranged Tourist Visa from Dubai for UAE entry in the month of OCTOBER, can the FAMILY enter through Abu Dhabi Airport by taking direct flight from DELHI to Abu Dhabi instead of Delhi to Dubai?
If you have any UPDATES/NEWS Sir, please share. Also, please share any LINK to check the same on any UAE Official Websites/News Media Websites.
Good evening Sam, i would like to ask, my friend will travel on Etihad Airways from Jakarta to Cairo around this winter, does PCR test still require for transiting in AUH? Or the regulation has been updated? Thanks
You need PCR test to fly with Etihad Airways.
Hi Sam,
I’m a new Zealander and fly to Dubai on 6 October and get a visa on arrival. I had a flight on 26 October from Dubai to Shanghai and got cancelled. Now I can get Ethihad tickets flying from Abu Dhabi. Is it possible for me as a tourist to leave UAE from Abu Dhabi instead of Dubai?
Thanks a lot for your time.
Alex
How long will the on arrival test results will be available in Dubai airport
About 24 hours
Hi Sam,
Do you know if I can visit Dubai for 1 week, coming from IAD. Planning to get visa on arrival at DXB, American passport. Or, do you see any problem with this plan. Planning to get my PCR test 2 days before departure, and I am planning to fly on Turkish airways.
I appreciate your help.
Much love from DC.
no problem so far with your plan (though rules keep changing) but Turkish Air is not currently flying to Dubai.
Do I need to have a health insurance? because this was one of requirements from dubai civil aviation as per my airlines cebu pacific. but when i called Dubai civil aviation they dont have any idea they said.
There is no checking of health insurance in Dubai.
Good morning ica, if uae government wants RESIDENT save arrival, let them plz ease the restrictions on ica entry confirmation, after being stuck out of the country n stranded the UAE see it necessary n left the restrictions on RESIDENT to enter the country easily some of us we have valid RESIDENT Visa, before we out of the country our visa expired.
Good evening sir, I was told to put in my passport number, Emirate ID number n my nationality, in the ica confirmation website page, which I did n I was welcome in the UAE n I even told to go ahead with the processing of my other travelleď documents, but to my atmost surprised this afternoon I went on ica service for RESIDENT to recheck my entry status, I was denied entry up to 60 days, so really want to what is the cause for cancelled of my entry status to denied.
Sir I’m confused, I was told to put in my Emirate ID number, along with my passport number n my nationality n I was welcome in the UAE, n told to go ahead with my with process of my travelling documents, to my utmost surprised went it out this afternoon ica told me that they will be able to process my travel in the next 60 days ,so I really want to know what is the cause.
Have u got any update
Can i fly from UK to Dubai on a tourist visa and then travel by car to abu dhabi as a tourist?
sir i am a seafarer scheduled to fly Larnaca Cyprus to kochi India on 11 Sep 2020 , my itineraries Larnaca to Frankfurt and Abudhabi and kochi , please advise me what are the documents i need to fly and is pct test Mandatory?
Sir i have a flight with emirates on Sep 13 Maldives to DXB. Then i have my flight with Cebu Pacific from DXB to Manila Philippines on Sep 14, less than 24 hours transit time. I know i have to collect baggage at DXB airport and clear immigration and re check-in for the next flight but do i have to obtain a transit visa prior to my arrival in DXB? Thank you.
I don’t advise to travel with such a COMPLEX itinerary.
I am also Planning to travel to Abu Dhabi via Dubai by road on a visitor visa. Can someone confirm if that’s possible ?
Has someone successfully done that ?
Technically, Abu Dhabi is closed for anyone on visit/tourist visa. I cannot advise you whether anyone has practically done it by road as they do check your ID and Negative COVID-19 test.
I am confused as no one is correctly saying if only pcr test or both pcr and dpi test is required to enter abu dhabi from dubai.
And after we enter abu dhabi the results will be valid for 48hours right.? Pls confirm.
You need only PCR Test to enter Abu Dhabi from Dubai. Previously people can use DPI test but they have tightened the requirement.
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/transport/abu-dhabi-s-new-coronavirus-swab-test-rules-come-in-today-1.1068936
Why UAE has put restriction on pakistani men aged 20-40 and major cities like Karachi has been banned from getting tourist visa. That is very uncertain and disappointment.
My friend going to Iran from Germany with German passport with Emirates airline transiting from DXB for 24 hours
Can she come out for visiting us then go back to airport again?
I will be going to the Maldives from the US, can I get a PCR test at at the resort in the Maldives before the return flight to DXB and on to BOS that they will accept at the airport ? Thanks, Russ.
I have same issue, travelling on visit visa from dxb to auh, have pcr test.
Pls confirm. Thanks
We’re not able to advise on this one. But in practice, Abu Dhabi road boarder is only interested in looking at your PCR Test result.
can i go from Dubai to Abu dhabi on a tourist vis with a negative covid test report
Sir, I will be going to Mumbai from Sulaimaniyah City in Kurdistan through Dubai as transit (6:30 hours transit stay in Dubai) by Flydubai flight.
Will appreciate if you can please and kindly assist me with my query that whether I will be facing any problem?
Interested to know when new work and residency visas will be issued to foreign nationals offered work in Abu Dhabi. Thank you
I have covid 19 negative pcr test. With my Abu Dhabi visit visa can I travel to Abu Dhabi via Dubai airport?
dear sir,
what if we received red remark for entry in UAE as follows.
Dear Valued Customer :
we will consider the possibility of rescheduling your travel date after 60 days in order to preserve your safety. We thank and appreciate your understanding
STILL WE CAN TRAVEL TO ABU DHABI WITH RESIDENCE VISA.
REGARDS
ANIL
What about visitors landing in Dubai and then going to Abu Dhabi via Etihad coach service to catch the Etihad flight?
As was clearly mentioned, you will need a COVID-19 PCR Negative test in order to go to Abu Dhabi.
What is your opinion as to the likelihood that a cruise scheduled to leave from Dubai in mid November will actually take place? Thanks for any thoughts.
I decline to predict anything that I have no expertise in.