Coronavirus: Dubai updates entry rules for passengers from India, South Africa and Nigeria

The new rules will be in effect from June 23

A man receives Covid-19 vaccine at the MBRU a community mobile health clinic near the Al Waha Community on Nad Al Hamar Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Three-year-old Omar Al Mulla gets his saliva tested at the Biogenix lab at G42 in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Healthcare workers get sprayed with disinfectants after conducting free PCR test in downtown Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A sign asking customers to wear mask is seen in a tailor shop in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A hand sanitizer is placed at the newly opened Al Zahia City Centre in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

Seats are blocked inside the family cinema at Al Zahia City Centre in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

Floor signage for social distancing is seen at the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pedestrians cross the street in Abu Dhabi on a hazy afternoon. Victor Besa / The National

Commuters get on a bus at Hamdan St. in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A man wearing a face mask passes by a store in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A stoke keeper arranges the flowers at a Hindu flower shop in Bur Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National

Staff prepare filter coffee at the One Degree Café in Margham area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A woman walks on the beach on a hazy sandy day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Related: Emirates to resume India flights from June 23

Dubai has updated its rules for inbound airline passengers from India, South Africa and Nigeria.

The rules from the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai will take effect from June 23, Dubai Media Office reported on Saturday.

They are intended to protect passengers and ease procedures while following coronavirus regulations.

The UAE in April suspended flights from India as it battled a Covid-19 surge.  UAE citizens, diplomatic missions between the two countries, official delegations, business planes and golden residency holders were excluded from the suspension.

Emirates on Saturday said it would restart flights from that date subject to the new rules.

Travellers from South Africa

The new protocols allow travellers from South Africa, who have received two doses of a UAE-approved vaccine, to enter Dubai.

Passengers must present a negative PCR result taken within 48 hours before departure to Dubai. UAE nationals are exempted from this requirement.

Passengers must also undergo a PCR test on arrival in Dubai. Transit passengers should comply with entry rules of their final destinations.

Travellers from Nigeria

Passengers must present a negative PCR test result taken 48 hours prior to departure. UAE citizens are exempted from this requirement.

The negative PCR test certificate should carry a QR code and the test must have been conducted by labs approved by the Nigerian government.

Passengers must also undergo a PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

Travellers from India 

Only passengers with a valid residence visa who have received two doses of a UAE-approved vaccine are allowed to travel to Dubai.

They should also present a negative test certificate from a PCR test taken 48 hours before departure. UAE nationals are exempted from this requirement.

Only QR-coded negative PCR test certificates are accepted. Passengers from India are required to take a rapid PCR test four hours before departure for Dubai.

They must also take another PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

In addition, following arrival, passengers from India should undergo "institutional quarantine" until they receive their PCR test result, which is expected within 24 hours.

UAE citizens and diplomats are exempted from institutional quarantine.

Meanwhile, Dubai said the updated travel protocols are part of a regular process of revising precautionary measures based on the latest developments. They are also aimed at enabling the city to continue serving as a global commercial hub

India and Covid-19 - in pictures

A health worker reacts after receiving a dose of Covaxin vaccine at a vaccination centre in Mumbai, India. AP Photo

A health worker prepares the jab of the Covishield Covid-19 vaccine in a residential area in Chennai. AFP

A vaccination centre is seen closed due to non-availability of Covid-19 vaccines in New Delhi. AFP

Health workers collect a nasal swab sample from a man for Covid-19 testing at Khag village, in central Kashmir's Budgam district. AFP

Jagdish Chand Sharma shows a photograph of his late wife Anita sharma, who was a Covid-19 patient at Dr Karam Singh Memorial Multi Specially hospital in Amritsar. AFP

Relatives mourn as they wait to receive the body of their loved one, who died due to the Covid-19, at a mortuary in New Delhi. AFP

Rickshaw-pullers and other migrant labourers queue up to receive food distributed by a charity as the lockdown continues in New Delhi. Getty Images

Partially deserted roads with closed shops are seen in a market in Siliguri. AFP

Bodies, some of which are believed to be Covid-19 victims, are seen partially exposed in shallow sand graves after rains washed away the top layer of sand at a cremation ground on the banks of the Ganges River in Shringverpur, north-west of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Getty Images