Passengers flying into Ras Al Khaimah International Airport must take a Covid-19 test on arrival and self-isolate at their hotel or place of residence until its results are known, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The ruling is part of strict safety measures which will be in place when the emirate welcomes back international travellers from Thursday.
Low-cost airline Air Arabia will be the first carrier to resume operations at the airport.
Rules for returning residents and tourists
Official guidelines state visitors do not require prior approval before travelling to Ras Al Kahaimah.
But they must have health insurance cover and present a negative Covid-19 certificate from a test taken no more than 96 hours prior to travel.
Passengers who subsequently test positive for Covid-19 after the on-arrival airport test must self-isolate for 14 days, at their own expense.
Visitors are also required to complete a health disclosure form and download the contract-tracing app, Al Hosn.
“We have ensured that all procedures are able to be conducted swiftly, efficiently and transparently and do not represent a significant inconvenience for passengers,” said Sanjay Khanna, executive officer of RAK Airport.
All facilities located inside the airport such as the duty-free and restaurants will operate as usual.
Air Arabia said on its website it will operate flights to and from Lahore in Pakistan, and the Egyptian capital of Cairo from Thursday.
Flights to and from Dhaka in Bangladesh, and Peshawar, Pakistan, will recommence from Friday, with the service in and out of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, starting up on Saturday.
The airport anticipates more airlines will soon follow Air Arabia's lead and resume flights from the emirate.
When at full capacity, the airport offers flights to a number of major cities across the globe, including Cairo, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Calicut, Katowice, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Luxembourg, Prague, Istanbul, and Moscow.
Last week, the Ras Al Khaimah government announced that free Covid-19 tests would be offered to international visitors as part of efforts to boost tourism.
Free screening, available until the end of the year, will be provided to those flying into and departing the emirate.
Travellers will be able to undergo the free PCR nasal swab test at RAK Hospital or RAK Medical Centre in Al Hamra Mall.
Ras Al Khaimah prepares to welcome back residents and tourists
