Travellers arriving in Britain from the UAE face a variety of coronavirus rules when they land. Getty Images
Travellers arriving in Britain from the UAE face a variety of coronavirus rules when they land. Getty Images
Travellers arriving in Britain from the UAE face a variety of coronavirus rules when they land. Getty Images
Travellers arriving in Britain from the UAE face a variety of coronavirus rules when they land. Getty Images

The current Covid rules facing UAE travellers coming to the UK


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The UK has added the UAE to its safe travel list - meaning people travelling to Britain from the UAE do not have to quarantine on arrival.

The UAE-UK travel corridor takes effect from Saturday.

The promise of winter sun is likely to attract many UK residents to the UAE, while UAE residents have the opportunity to reconnect with family.

However, those arriving in the UK face a litany of coronavirus restrictions that vary across the country.

Here’s a look at some of the rules facing travellers:

Is England still in lockdown?

England will still be in national lockdown when the quarantine arrangements are lifted on Saturday.

The lockdown is expected to be lifted on December 2.

While still in place, people have been told to remain at home unless there is a specific reason to leave.

The exemptions for leaving home include exercise, visiting the supermarket or collecting takeaway food, and education.

In general, people must not meet socially but they can meet one other person not from their household outdoors.

Shops remain closed but some hospitality venues are operating a takeaway service.

People are advised against non-essential travel.

What happens when lockdown ends?

If lockdown ends on December 2, as expected, England will revert back to its three-tier alert system.

That means the country will be divided up according to local infection rates.

Areas are categorised as either Tier 1 (medium), Tier 2 (high) or Tier 3 (very high).

The higher the rate of transmission, the higher the alert level and, subsequently, the tougher the restrictions.

The alert level under which each area will fall once lockdown ends remains unclear at this stage.

England's lockdown rules.
England's lockdown rules.

What are the rules for Tier 3?

People are not allowed to meet socially with anybody who is not part of their household.

Residents are also not allowed to meet their support bubble indoors or in certain outdoor locations.

Pubs and bars must stay closed unless they are serving meals - and alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.

People are also advised not to travel in or out of Tier 3 areas other than for work, education or care responsibilities.

What are the rules for Tier 2?

Those in areas under Tier 2, or high alert, are not allowed to meet indoors with people they do not live with - including in their homes, pubs and restaurants.

People in single-adult households are still allowed to meet people in their support bubble.

There are also exceptions for in-home care and childcare.

People can still meet friends and family outdoors, but only in a group of up to six people, while the use of public transport is discouraged.

What are the rules for Tier 1?

Areas classified as Tier 1, or medium alert, fall under the standard coronavirus regulations.

These include the rule of six, which prevent more than six people meeting indoors and outdoors, and the 10pm hospitality curfew.

.England's Covid alert system.
.England's Covid alert system.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Scotland is currently operating a tiered set of coronavirus restrictions.

The rules range from near normal at Level 0 to Level 4, which constitutes a full lockdown.

The majority of the country remains under Level 3 or “very high” restrictions - which means bars are not permitted to sell alcohol either indoors or outdoors.

Cafes, pubs and restaurants are only allowed to open until 6pm for food sales and non-alcoholic drinks.

People living under Level 3 restrictions are not allowed to travel outside the area.

Wales emerged from its latest 17-day "firebreak" lockdown on November 9.

Indoor meetings between households are still banned but people can meet outside in groups of up to four.

Restaurants, bars and cafes have re-opened but are still not allowed to serve alcohol after 10pm.

All retailers are open.

There are no rules preventing travel but the authorities have advised against non-essential travel.

In Northern Ireland, a "circuit-breaker" lockdown remains in place for another week.

However, from November 20, hospitality venues will open on a “graduated basis” with unlicensed venues such as cafes opening first.

Pubs and restaurants can reopen from November 27.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

On sale: now

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

While you're here
The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WHAT%20ARE%20THE%20PRODUCTS%20WITHIN%20THE%20THREE%20MAJOR%20CATEGORIES%3F
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20materials%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20specifically%20engineered%20to%20exhibit%20novel%20or%20enhanced%20properties%2C%20that%20confer%20superior%20performance%20relative%20to%20conventional%20materials%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20components%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20includes%20semiconductor%20components%2C%20such%20as%20microprocessors%20and%20other%20computer%20chips%2C%20and%20computer%20vision%20components%20such%20as%20lenses%20and%20image%20sensors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20products%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20includes%20personal%20electronics%2C%20smart%20home%20devices%20and%20space%20technologies%2C%20along%20with%20industry-enabling%20products%20such%20as%20robots%2C%203D%20printing%20equipment%20and%20exoskeletons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Strategy%26amp%3B%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
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THURSDAY'S FIXTURES

4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors

6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils

8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

De De Pyaar De

Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg

Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')

Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')

DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
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AIDA%20RETURNS
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Mobile phone packages comparison
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up

Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm

On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm

The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm

The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm

Romang, June 28 at 6pm

Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm

Underdog, June 29 at 2pm

Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm

A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm 

 

MADAME%20WEB
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20S.J.%20Clarkson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Dakota%20Johnson%2C%20Tahar%20Rahim%2C%20Sydney%20Sweeney%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SERIES SCHEDULE

First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

Kill%20
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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now