Take a COVID‑19 PCR Test:
- If Dubai is your final destination, you must have a negative COVID‑19 PCR test result before your departure and you must also bring your certificate to check‑in
- The test must be taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure
- The certificate must be for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Other test certificates including antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai
- Bring an official, printed certificate to check‑in – SMS and digital certificates are not accepted. Without a printed negative test certificate, you will not be accepted on the flight
If You Are Connecting in Dubai:
The COVID‑19 PCR test is no longer required for all passengers – it is only mandatory for those arriving from the following countries or/and when the destination country requires it:
- Middle East and Africa: Angola, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Somaliland, Tanzania, Syria, Eritrea, Kenya, Jordan, Morocco, Iraq, South Sudan, Djibouti, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Iran, Lebanon, Israel
- Europe: Czech Republic, Romania, Montenegro, Malta, Georgia, Ukraine, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, Moldova
- Asia: Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Philippine, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Nepal, Uzbekistan
- North America: USA (California, Florida and Texas)
- South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile
Test exemptions:
- Children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability are exempt from this test
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 PCR test
- If you are flying from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, you must get your certificate from one of the labs listed in the designated laboratories document to be accepted on the flight
At Check‑in
- All travellers to Dubai, including passengers with a connecting flight, must complete a health declaration form and give it to the staff at check‑in. You can download it now and bring it to the airport with you, or you can complete it at check‑in.
During Your Flight
- If Dubai is your final destination you will need to complete a quarantine undertaking form which will be given to you on board. Give this form to the Dubai Health Authority staff on arrival.

Emirates is offering automatic COVID-19 insurance for passengers for up to 31 days travel. It also offer travel hygiene kits to every passenger onboard.
Travelling From Dubai to Abu Dhabi
There are strict rules for travelling into Abu Dhabi by road. All passengers entering Abu Dhabi must have a negative COVID‑19 PCR test result, issued within 96 hours. You may have to quarantine depending on how long you have been in the UAE.
Arriving Passengers
If you have just arrived in Dubai and travel straight to Abu Dhabi, you must have a negative COVID‑19 PCR test result issued within 96 hours and take a DPI test at the border. You must also quarantine for 14 days and wear a tracking wristband. Your quarantine may be at home, in a hotel or in accommodation provided by the health authorities. After 12 days you must take another COVID‑19 PCR test. If you are negative, you can then remove the wristband after 14 days. If you are positive, you must follow the Abu Dhabi health authority advice.
If You Have Been in The UAE For up to 14 Days
Your quarantine time will be reduced by the number of days you have already been in another emirate of the UAE. For example if you have been in Dubai for 10 days before entering Abu Dhabi, you must then quarantine for 4 days after entering Abu Dhabi.
Article Source: Emirates





Hi sam
I am domestic helper from saudi i have flight on august 25 by flydubai connecting to dubhai and transfer to Emirates going to Philippines. Do i need to prepare or present PRC test negtive results?
I hope i wil have the answer..thank you
Yes you’d need PCR
Hi Sam My son of 14 years old and my wife will be travelling to Prague from Delhi do they need to get covid test if yes where and do they have to be quarantined?
hi sam chui,,follow up question.. i’m connecting flight in saudi to philippines and stopover 15hrs in dubai..if i have already pcr test and the result is negative i can go outside to dubai airport and go to my family in dubai to see them?.and i need to fill up the health care and quarantine form in dubai??..and how about the visa??where i can get?i check visa available for me in website and i see 48hrs or 96hrs but i dont know how to get it?
Yes, I believe you can! The visa process is as per normal procedures. Pls check with Emirates.
Hi Sam!
My mother and cousin will be arriving on 6th of December in dubai with Dxb tourist visa but will be entering Abu dhabi, as we are living here in Auh.. will they be allowed entry to Auh?
Thank you
You will need to quarantine in Abu Dhabi for 14 days if you enter Abu Dhabi.
hi Sam..i have connecting fligth form saudi to dubai and dubai to philippines,,i have 15hrs overlay in dubai,,can i go out to airport to see the dubai and to see my family there in dubai??
You’d need negative COVID test.
Hi. I will be having a 31 hour layover in Dubai, and thus I will have to check into a hotel. Do you know if emirates arranges the hotel for this, and if not there is a hotel I want to check out, however it is located in a mall and so I was wondering if I was allowed to go into the mall to buy my meals? Kindly let me know.
Hello Sam.
I would be travelling to the uk and transiting with 2 children under the age of 12 in dubai. Would we all require a negative test or just me the adult.
Hi Sam, I am flying from the uk on 25 Nov, 2020, to Dubai and onto Afghanistan. I will not depart the airport, do i need a PCR Test certificate?
Hey Sam, I have a 20 hour layover in Dubai. Would it be possible to enter Dubai city at this time, given I am eligible for a Visa on Arrival
You need a negative PCR test if you want to enter Dubai.
Sam, we are transiting through Dubai from the Philippines. We will take a PCR test 72 hours before departure in Phils. Will Dubai require us to take another PCR test once we land, even though we are in transit to another country?
No, you do not need to take another PCR in Dubai on transit.
Hi Sam We will be travelling tPakistan in the new year with Emirates Airline from Birmingham uk where would we get the tests covid 19 from so you can board???
THANKYOU
How about in AUH? From Indonesia to Morocco, is there any mandatory to have a PCR test first before we transiting there?
You’d need one to get on Etihad flight.
Hi Sam, I will be flying to India from New Zealand via Dubai, should I need a covid negative certificate. Also, I have 20 hours layover in Dubai, is there any chance of getting a transit visa for going out.
Hey. Can I know your experience for your 20 hours layover in dubai?
Hi I’m still confused . You need to take a covid test 96hrs before you fly. But you can catch the virus still after your test. What are your thoughts on this sam.
Of course you can catch at any moment. But having a test is still better for the confidence.
My clinic will give me my official PCR results in 24 hours by email. If I print out those results, will Emirates accept it so I can get on my flight?
Depends on where you flying from. Check the details in the blog.
So if I fly from MIA to JFK, then take JFK to DXB will I need a PCR test transiting through DXB? Kind of confusing.
Correct if you’re originate from FL but I don’t know how they enforce it.