In just five weeks, schools in the UAE will close for the summer break and many families will embark on a much-needed holiday abroad.
A growing number of destinations are easing quarantine and Covid-19 testing rules - particularly for people who are fully vaccinated.
But procedures remain tight in some countries, whether you're vaccinated or not, and there's a myriad of rules to bear in mind.
The National has put together a pre-departure checklist to help plan your break.
When do I need to take a PCR test?
First things first: travelling to most countries - and in many cases simply boarding a flight in the UAE - requires a negative PCR test.
It should have been taken no less than 72 hours before your flight, so make sure you plan ahead.
You should receive the test results in 24 hours, but it can take longer. Research your travel destination, as the authorities might require a certificate printed out, or for you to download a local tracing app.
UAE residents and citizens should download and activate the Al Hosn app, which is used at Abu Dhabi International Airport, and increasingly used for access to live events.
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Top travel destinations for 2021
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Are there packing and baggage restrictions?
It depends on the airline and destination.
Most airlines are operating with similar baggage allowances, but you can check in advance.
Should I get travel insurance?
Yes. Airlines such as Emirates airline or Etihad Airways offer passengers free travel insurance that covers Covid-19 treatment, but many do not.
Should you fall ill in a foreign country, you will want piece of mind that you are covered for a good level of treatment that could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Global insurers such as Axa and major US providers including Cat 70 and John Hancock, have specific Covid-19 packages to cover all eventualities.
Insurance packages can be found for as little as $25 and cover tens of thousands of dollars worth of treatment.
Find a testing centre at your destination
It is important to be aware of any travel restrictions once you arrive at your destination. For example, can you travel from one city to another?
It is also important to be aware of where testing centres are located.
Unlike in the UAE, where every clinic now offers PCR tests at government-mandated prices - clinics cannot charge more than Dh150 - in many countries tests are limited to smaller private clinics.
The UAE-recognised Pure Health portal has a list of approved centres here.
Returning to the UAE will require a negative PCR test, so it is important to know where your nearest test centre is to make sure you get your result back in time for the flight.
Stay safe while travelling
Do not rely on airlines or airports to take care of your personal health and safety. Pack your own hand sanitiser and face masks.
Consider getting a sports-style face mask that wraps around your head, rather than your ears, for comfort during a long day of travel.
Travelling in and out of Dubai
If you are a Dubai resident departing from the emirate, you will need to take a PCR test only if it is mandated by the country you are travelling to.
Passengers heading to Dubai from any point of origin, including GCC countries, must present a negative Covid-19 test certificate at check-in. These should be taken no more than 72 hours before departure.
Antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted.
At present, the emirate is not accepting passengers from several countries due to emerging variants of the virus.
Passengers will not be able to enter Dubai if they have been in, or transited through, South Africa or Nigeria in the past 14 days.
However, UAE nationals and members of diplomatic missions who are returning to the Emirates from those countries can enter Dubai. In this case, they must present a negative Covid-19 certificate on arrival.
While passengers can depart from Dubai to some Indian cities, flights from India to Dubai are currently suspended.
Only the following categories of passengers will be allowed entry to Dubai from India: members of diplomatic missions, holders of a UAE golden visa, UAE nationals, passengers exempted and/or granted permission to enter the UAE by the appropriate authorities, as well as passengers travelling on a business flight who have a valid Covid-19 PCR test certificate.
What if I am vaccinated?
Some countries have eased travel restrictions for passengers that are fully vaccinated, including Croatia, Barbados and Georgia.
In most cases, passengers who have received both doses only need to present proof of vaccination on arrival.
Typically, children who are travelling with vaccinated parents are subject to the same rules as vaccinated travellers, but it is advised to check the rules for each destination.
Unvaccinated passengers will have to take a PCR test and quarantine in some countries. Travellers should check the rules for each destination.
People living in the UAE who have been fully inoculated against Covid-19 can avoid paid hotel quarantine in Ireland.
Any traveller who has received two doses of the AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine will be allowed to self-quarantine at home or in alternative accommodation.
Passengers arriving in the country will still have to present a negative PCR test, whether vaccinated or not, taken 72 hours before landing in Ireland.
Georgia, which is a popular holiday destination for UAE residents, has relaxed travel rules for vaccinated passengers.
Citizens of all countries, except those that have been in India over the past 14 days, may enter Georgia if they have been fully vaccinated.
Can I travel to a country that has UAE on a red list?
It is possible for UAE passengers to travel to a country that has Emirates on its red list.
The UAE has been on the UK's red list for travel since mid-January – but travel is still possible.
The first option requires mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
As it stands, passengers travelling to the UK from the UAE are required, by law, to stay in a government-mandated hotel for 10 days at a cost of £1,750 (Dh9,000) per adult. The current fine for breaking the UK quarantine law is £10,000 (Dh52,000).
The other option is to travel via a country on the UK’s travel green list or common travel areas, such as Iceland or Portugal.
Although this is not generally advised, travellers could complete a 10-day stopover in one of these countries before departing for the UK.
Before travelling onward to the UK, you must book and pay for a Covid-19 test to take on or before day two after arrival, and complete a passenger locator form.
Residents flying out of Abu Dhabi and the rest of UAE
Everyone leaving Abu Dhabi International Airport on an Etihad flight is required to take a PCR swab test, 48 or 72 hours before your flight, depending on where you are travelling to.
You must present a printed copy of the negative PCR test result on arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Download and activate the Al Hosn app to receive any required test results.
It is the responsibility of passengers to check the test and entry rules of their place of departure and final destination.
Etihad has introduced a ‘Verified to Fly’ service, making it simple for passengers to travel in and out of the city.
Verified to Fly is available from seven days before your flight.
How it works:
- Visit 'manage my booking' and update your contact details
- The airline will send you an email with the Covid-19 travel requirements for your destination
- Reply to that email with the relevant documents and the team will check them within 12 hours
- When you have been 'Verified to Fly', check-in online, download your boarding pass, then head straight to the Etihad Verified to Fly desks at the airport
UAE residents flying back to Abu Dhabi
All passengers with visas issued from other emirates can only enter the UAE through Abu Dhabi International Airport if travelling from the 'Green List' of countries issued by the Abu Dhabi government. Approved countries include Australia, the UK and Germany.
All UAE residents must update their details on uaeentry.ica.gov.ae prior to travelling to the UAE.
Passengers must take a PCR test no more than 72 hours before entering the city. Health authorities at the airport will also perform a free PCR test on arrival.
Passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport from ‘Non-Green List’ countries will be requested to sign a quarantine undertaking form at the airport.
As part of Abu Dhabi's Covid-19 guidelines, travellers must quarantine for 10 days at home or in a hotel.
Those coming from a country that UAE authorities deems high risk will be subject to quarantine at a government facility.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: South Africa, field first
Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48
South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Manchester United v Young Boys, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
'Champions'
Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Mobile phone packages comparison
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Suarez 27', Vidal 32', Dembele 35', Messi 78')
Sevilla 0
Red cards: Ronald Araujo, Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
