Explainer: Do I have to pay for a Covid-19 test on arrival in Dubai?

Tourists and residents landing in the emirate will be tested free of charge

A tourist takes a selfie before he gets a medical screening upon arrival at Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. AFP

A traveller stands by the electronic entry gates at Terminal 3. AFP

Tourists and visitors travelling to see family in the UAE. AFP

A tourist checks her phone as she waits for medical screening. AFP

The huge arrivals hall at Terminal 3 has been transformed into a screening centre. AFP

Tourists are asked to get tested in their home countries several days before they depart, but if unable to Dubai's health authority screens them for free. AFP

Passengers wait to have their documents processed. AFP

An airport police officer directs a traveller towards medical screening area upon arrival. AFP

Emirates and airport staff wear disposable gowns and protective gear that can be changed and disposed of easily. AFP

Visitor numbers are expected to rise after the summer as cooler temperatures arise. AFP

Both tourists and visitors coming to see family have passed through the airport since inbound flights for non-residents began on Tuesday. AFP

All travellers landing in Dubai can be tested free of charge for Covid-19, according to the Dubai Health Authority.

Nationals and returning residents will be given polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on landing in the emirate.

Tourists have two options. They can take a PCR-test up to 96 hours before flying to the UAE and present Dubai authorities with the Covid-19 negative certificate.

Otherwise, they can opt to undergo testing free of charge on landing in the city.

Follow-up Covid-19 tests for any tourist exhibiting symptoms of the virus in-flight will also be conducted, even if the traveller has already obtained a negative certificate.

The measures have been put in place by Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management to help prevent the spread of coronavirus by air travel.

All travellers arriving in Dubai must also fill out health declaration forms that disclose any possible symptoms of the disease. These will be given to passengers by the airline they are flying with.

At Dubai airport, every passenger will have their temperature scanned via thermal screening devices and everyone must download the Covid-19 DXB app.

Valid medical insurance is also needed for tourists. Those that arrive without it will be asked to sign a disclaimer undertaking that they will "bear all costs of quarantine and treatment".

Any traveller testing positive for Covid-19 once in Dubai will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period.

This can be done at home if conditions comply with official guidelines from the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre.

People who are home-sharing or live in high-density housing will have to be isolated at a separate facility. This should be provided by their employer or the government, with companies bearing the costs according to the Dubai Health Authority's most recent guidelines.

Those flying into Dubai must also observe precautionary measures including wearing face masks, maintaining two-metre social distancing and washing their hands regularly.