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.
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.
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