Saudi Gazette report

DUBAI — Dubai has updated travel protocols for all inbound passengers as the emirate seeks to confront the surge in coronavirus cases.

The move, which will come into effect from Jan. 31 (Sunday), was announced by the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai headed by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The updates are part of the committee’s keenness to protect passengers and ease hassles for them without compromising on COVID-19 precautionary measures put in place to safeguard everyone’s health and wellbeing.

As part of the revised protocols, UAE residents, GCC citizens, and visitors are required to do a PCR test prior to departure for Dubai irrespective of the country they are coming from.

The committee has also mandated that arrivals from certain countries (based on the pandemic situation in those countries) require an additional test on arrival in Dubai.

Protocols will remain the same for UAE citizens returning to the country from overseas, which exempts them from undergoing a PCR test prior to departure, regardless of the country they are coming from. They will only be required to conduct a PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

The Committee has also decided to reduce the validity period of PCR tests from 96 hours to 72 hours.

The Committee has directed Dubai Airports Company to provide Rapid PCR or Rapid Antigen testing at Dubai airports, in cooperation with relevant authorities, to facilitate travel procedures for passengers departing from Dubai to countries that require this type of pre-travel test, in accordance with the time-frame specified.

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said the updated travel protocols are part of a regular process of revising and optimizing precautionary measures based on the latest local, regional, and international developments. They are also aimed at enabling the city to continue serving as a global commercial hub and a bridge for travel and trade between the east and west.