PCR tests for travellers only if required by destination country: UAE

Emad Eddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The UAE digital government affirmed that travellers from the UAE have to do a PCR test only if it is required by the destination they are travelling to.

The government has set 3 requirements for the travel of UAE citizens, as it said that citizens who are 18 and over, can travel if the person fulfills one of the following travel requirements: First He must have received one dose of an approved vaccine, within a month from the date of travel, secondly he has must have received two doses of vaccine, and thirdly he must do a lab test if not vaccinated, within 48 hours from the date of departure, with the need to complete the travel forms in the Al Hosn app to turn the status to green.

The government added that citizens are exempted from these conditions if they submit an official letter from the approved health authorities. The exempted categories include: persons who have a medical certificate for exemption from vaccination, humanitarian cases and travellers for medical or therapeutic purposes.

These categories must obtain an exception from the competent authorities before arriving at the airport, the government stressed. The government also affirmed that citizens have to register in “Twajudi” service before travelling, besides adhering to the preventive measures and directives related to the Covid-19 at the country’s airports, and the airports of the destination.

If a UAE citizen is infected with Covid-19 virus while abroad, he must communicate directly with the nearest mission to the UAE or contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation's call centre on the phone number 00971-800-44444, the government pointed out. It also indicated that residents of the UAE do not have to obtain approval to leave the country, calling on residents to check requirements for travelling abroad set by destination through airline websites.