[UPDATED] Traveling to UAE: A Step by Step Process

Kate Patrimonio

Last updated 16 Mar 2022

Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/burj-al-arab-dubai-sunset-emirates-5809639/

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be a responsible traveler! All information on this post is accurate from the time of writing. Rules, regulations, and guidelines are updated frequently and may change without Klook’s prior notice. For your safety, check with the respective destination directly before your travels.

Learn the latest UAE tourist requirements

Time to dust off your luggage and passport after almost two years of travel bans and entry restrictions worldwide. With the Dubai Expo 2020 in full swing and the COVID-19 requirements easing in the UAE, it’s high time for a holiday in the Middle East.

Score exclusive Dubai Expo 2020 tickets on Klook!

We have listed down the latest UAE rules for tourists to help global travelers like you plan ahead. Dive into the new normal with this handy UAE travel guide!

UAE Travel Checklist

Step 1: Check the visa requirement for your country

Just like in most countries, the UAE requires a visa for tourists. Depending on the citizenship you hold, you may get a visa on arrival or you can pre-arrange a visit visa before your trip.

Step 2: Present a vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR test

Starting 26 Feb, fully vaccinated travelers can now enter UAE with only the following:

A vaccination certificate with a valid QR code

Meanwhile, unvaccinated travelers can present either of the following:

Negative RT PCR test taken no more than 48 hours from departure OR
A QR code-accompanied COVID-19 recovery certificate issued within 30 days from the date of departure

The validity period of the RT PCR test result certificates will be dependent on the unvaccinated traveler's country of origin:

Travel from the United Kingdom (UK) to Dubai

Passengers from the UK must present a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test taken no more than 48 hours from departure. The test result certificate must have a QR code and the location where the sample was taken
Any other test certificates, including NHS COVID‑19 test certificates, antibody tests, and home or self-test kits will not be accepted.

Travel from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to Dubai

Passengers from the above-mentioned countries must present a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test with a QR code taken no more than 48 hours from departure. The test result certificate must be conducted at an approved health facility.
They must also present a negative rapid PCR test with a QR code taken within six hours before departure at the departure airport.

Travel from Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Indonesia, and Vietnam to Dubai

Passengers must present a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test with a QR code taken no more than 72 hours from departure.

Travel from the following countries to Dubai

Passengers from Argentina, Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe must present a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test result with a QR code taken no more than 48 hours from departure

Travel from all other countries (including Gulf Cooperation Council countries or GCC) to Dubai

Passengers must present a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test result within 48 hours from departure

RT-PCR Test Exemptions

Tourists traveling to or transiting in Dubai may be exempted from the COVID-19 RT-PCR test requirement if they are:

Fully vaccinated travelers with the approved QR code (either via vaccination certificate or Alhosn app)
Children below 16 years old
Travelers with moderate to severe disabilities

The following are also exempted from the COVID-19 RT-PCR test requirement, but they must be tested upon arrival in Dubai:

All UAE nationals returning to Dubai from any country
Non-UAE nationals accompanying a first-degree UAE national family member
Domestic workers accompanying a UAE national sponsor

For more information, check out the official UAE website.

Klook Tip: download the Al Hosn app to enjoy benefits for fully vaccinated people in the UAE!

Step 3: Registering on the Alhosn app

The Alhosn app is the UAE’s official COVID-19 results app. It’s only required for residents, but vaccinated tourists are more than welcome to download the app and enjoy full access to public places across the emirates. Here’s how to set it up:

Step 1: Download the Identity and Citizenship (ICA) five days before departure to UAE

Step 2: Complete the form in the ‘Register Arrivals’ section and upload an international vaccination certificate

Step 3: You will receive an SMS with a link to download the Alhosn

Step 4: Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, you will receive a Unified Identification Number (UID) at the airport provided by immigration authorities

Step 5: Log into the Alhosn app using your UID number, then authenticate the registration with a one-time password (OTP) sent to you via SMS

Step 6: Your vaccination status will be automatically synced in both the ICA and Alhosn apps

Once the test results are up, you’ll get a ‘green pass’. You can use this to enter hotels, malls, restaurants, and supermarkets anywhere in the UAE for up to 14 days. Unvaccinated tourists can also use this app, but they must upload a negative COVID-19 test within 96 hours upon arrival to achieve ‘green’ status.

You must re-submit a negative PCR test done in UAE every 14 days to maintain your green status. Meanwhile, visitors with official vaccine exemption certificates must provide negative PCR test results every 7 days to continue using the perks of the green pass.

Children under 12 years old will automatically receive a green pass, even without a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test result. However, children aged 12 to 15 must present a negative PCR test to receive a green status on the Alhosn app.

For more information, check out the official Alhosn app website.

UAE Safety Guidelines

Masks aren't required in public spaces anymore, as well as physical distancing. However, it goes without saying that being extra careful and responsible while traveling in the new normal is a must. Here are some tips from the Dubai Health Authority on how to stay safe before, during, and after travel:

Choose a lower risk destination and make sure you get a COVID-19 booster dose (if eligible) and a seasonal influenza vaccine at least two weeks before your trip
Wear a mask at all times and follow precautionary measures in public areas
Avoid crowded places and wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
If you show any COVID-19 symptoms, isolate yourself and do a PCR test
If you were in contact with a positive case or tested positive yourself, isolate yourself and inform your work