Dubai-India flights: unvaccinated children under 18 can return without PCR test

Unvaccinated children, students and education, healthcare and government workers are exempt from vaccination requirements

A passenger waits at the drop-off point at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India.

Security personnel check the identity card of a man before allowing him inside Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers from the UK arrive at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.

A health worker takes swab sample of a passenger arriving from the UK at Anna International Airport in Chennai.

Passengers wait at the drop-off point at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers have their luggage checked before entering Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

A woman waits for her luggage to be disinfected at the drop-off point before entering Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers queue at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

UAE residents under the age of 18 who plan to travel to Dubai from India are exempt from vaccination and PCR test requirements, Emirates Airline has said.

On August 8, Emirates Support clarified the query of a passenger on Twitter.

"Passengers under the age of 18 years are exempt from the vaccination requirement when travelling to Dubai from India," it said.

All other passengers must have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Emirates.

People aged 18 years and above who were immunised in India are not currently eligible to return, regardless of what vaccine they received.

This includes people vaccinated with the Covishield shot, the name given to Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine when it is made by the Serum Institute of India.

Dubai visa holders must apply for pre‑entry approval through General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

Passengers must also have a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before their flight is scheduled to depart. Only PCR test results from certified labs that issue a QR code linked to the original report are accepted.

Passengers must take a PCR rapid test four hours before their flight. A rapid antigen test is not be accepted and another PCR test is needed on arrival in Dubai.

Emirates Airline had earlier reminded passengers that unvaccinated children, students and people working in education, healthcare or for the government are exempt from vaccination requirements.

On August 5, the UAE eased travel restrictions from six countries on its flight ban list to allow some residents stranded abroad to fly back to the Emirates.

The decision related to people in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda.