entry requirements for travel to dubai from 7 july

Coronavirus / Covid-19: Current notice for travelers, There are still warnings against unnecessary tourist trips to Dubai. The airports are open to international air traffic from and to Dubai. This also applies to airport transit. Entry by land is still prohibited.

Foreign tourists and business people have been able to travel to Dubai again with a Dubai visa since July 7, 2020. All travelers to Dubai must present a negative COVID-19 test result from a test carried out a maximum of 96 hours before departure at check-in. Children under the age of twelve and people with severe or moderate disabilities are exempt from the test requirement. Travelers from around the world can currently have the test carried out in a laboratory recognized there. Travelers from certain countries must take the test in a Dubai-approved laboratory have it done. A further test may be requested upon entry. Travelers who have a second COVID-19 test carried out on arrival must go to quarantine until they receive the test result. Travelers who have undergone another COVID-19 test when entering Dubai are required to download and register in the tracing COVID-19- DXB Smart App on their smartphone.

A COVID-19 test prior to departure may be required when leaving Dubai if this is required by the destination country. Travelers heading for the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland must submit a negative COVID-19 test result at check-in from 1 August 2020 of a test that is no more than 96 hours old on departure.

Foreign travelers with residence and a valid residence permit in the UAE require the approval of the responsible authority for entry. It must be available before the start of the return flight. People residing in the emirate of Dubai apply for approval from Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. Travelers residing in emirates other than Dubai apply for approval from the Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship. To enter this group of people in the UAE one is the COVID-19 test mandatory.

• Returning residents can expect to have to go into a (home) quarantine for up to 14 days after entering the country.
• The UAE security authorities have asked everyone to strictly observe the social distance.
• Shopping malls, shops, and restaurants are open under strict conditions. It is compulsory to wear face masks in public; failure to comply may result in a fine.
• Public gatherings remain prohibited until further notice. Private meetings are only permitted in small groups.
• Before traveling to Dubai, please also inform yourself about the currently applicable conditions for re-entry from the UAE to Home Country.
• Always follow the instructions of local authorities.

Entry to Dubai at a glance

Dubai, the emirate on the Persian Gulf, attracts millions of holidaymakers every year with its warm climate, its beaches, and its superlative architecture. Impressive skyscrapers, luxury hotels, and gigantic malls provide international flair alongside oriental tradition. So that nothing goes wrong when you arrive, you should plan your stay and take the necessary precautions in good time. Make sure that your passport is still valid for six months on the day of departure. Children need their own passport with a photo. Special rules apply to animals. In the following text, you will find the most important entry requirements for Dubai.

What reasons can lead to a travel refusal?

Israeli citizens are not allowed to travel to the UAE or across the country on their way to any other destination. It is not explicitly forbidden to have travel stamps from Israel in your passport. However, this can lead to uncomfortable questions due to the strained relations between the UAE and Israel. Entry can also be refused in this case. Each time, it is an individual, non-appealable decision. It is therefore advisable to avoid this situation by applying for a second passport in a good time or by not entering the passport stamp when entering Israel. Goods bought in Israel are also not allowed to enter the country. Due to the falling out between the UAE and Qatar in 2017, importing products from Qatar is also problematic. Again, you'd better do without it in order to avoid problems.

Which customs regulations are important?

Like the rest of the UAE, Dubai is an Islamic country. Introducing drugs, pornography, and counterfeit money is severely punished and can result in not only heavy fines but also prison terms. Photos of scantily clad people may also be classified as pornographic images, even if the persons depicted are of legal age and the photos are private. The definition of drugs includes not only substances like cannabis or opium but also poppy seeds, for example. It is therefore recommended not to bring any foods that contain poppy seeds. Pork and pork products such as salami and sausages are not available in the country and are also prohibited. Tobacco and tobacco products are allowed in adults, but an import limit of 2 applies. 000 cigarettes or 400 cigars or 2kg of tobacco per person. If you do not belong to the Muslim religion, as an adult you may have up to two liters of wine and two liters of spirits with you. Please note, however, that you should neither smoke nor drink in public as a holidaymaker, as the Islam-based laws forbid this behavior - especially during Ramadan.

Do I need any vaccinations or medication for the trip?

The entry requirements for Dubai do not provide for compulsory vaccinations. However, it is advisable to refresh the vaccinations recommended by the Robert Koch Institute if they are a long time ago. These are the standard vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and flu. If you are staying in the UAE for a longer period, it also makes sense to get vaccinated against hepatitis B, meningococcal and rabies before traveling. Malaria prophylaxis is not necessary for a trip to Dubai because malaria is virtually non-existent. Yellow fever is also very rare.

Some drugs that are available without a prescription in Germany are not allowed in the Emirates - including conventional painkillers. If you urgently need medication during your stay in Dubai, find out more in good time on the website of the Ministry of Health. If it is a prohibited substance, you must have a doctor certify that you need it for health reasons. The certificate should be certified and ideally written in English. Normal tablets such as aspirin and ibuprofen are also available in any pharmacy in Dubai anyway. It is therefore not necessary to take them with you from Germany. Foreign health insurance is not a must. However, it is advisable to take out a policy before traveling,

Can I travel to Dubai with animals?

If you are on vacation in Dubai or are staying there longer, you may want to take your four-legged friend with you. To do this, you must comply with Dubai's entry requirements for animals. These stipulate that dogs and cats must be at least 16 weeks old when entering the country. In addition, you need both a permit, which you can obtain from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and a certificate from a veterinarian, which certifies that the animal is healthy. Rabies vaccination is also mandatory. It should take place at least 30 days before the planned trip, but no more than one year ago. After all, every animal has to have a microchip implanted on which its data is stored.

Regardless of its size, your dog or cat may not travel in the cabin on all Emirates flights. The animal flies in an air-conditioned space between the passenger cabin and the cargo area and must be locked in a suitable transport container, which must be large enough to be able to turn around. It must also be ensured that no liquids can leak out of the cage. Since your four-legged friend receives neither water nor food from the staff during the entire flight, you must not forget a bowl with water and one with food in the cage. Due to the high stress for the animal, you should practice staying in the cage weeks before the trip.

What else do I have to consider?

Unlike in other Muslim countries, women in Dubai are allowed to move around freely and rent vehicles. Nevertheless, it is advisable to refrain from overly revealing clothing when entering the country. The shoulders and legs above the knees should be covered. Short shorts or a shirtless torso are also not recommended for men, as this can lead to uncomfortable situations with the police. In theory, it is not allowed in the UAE to live together as an unmarried couple and share a hotel room. As a rule, however, you will not be asked whether you are married when entering the country. However, homosexual couples should not identify themselves as such. Overall, it is uncommon in the whole UAE to exchange tenderness in public. Furthermore, caution is required if you want to take photos when you arrive. There is a photo ban in the UAE on military installations, airports, police officers, and public buildings. Failure to do so may result in your camera or smartphone being confiscated. You may be fined and your device may not be returned. To rent a vehicle, you should have an international driver's license.