Passengers to Dubai may be tested twice for Covid-19

Passengers from select countries to be 'double tested' starting August 1, according to UAE rules

Emirates airline has said that the on-arrival polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 at Dubai airports will be mandatory for passengers from certain specific countries from August 1.

Passengers flying from these countries should undergo mandatory COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival in Dubai from August 1, along with a negative COVID-19 test certificate from their country of origin. The list of countries is available on the airline's website.

India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sudan, Tanzania and the US are some countries covered under this new travel protocol.

The negative test proof that needs to be accepted on flights must be taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure. This excludes children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability.

In line with the federal rule, Emirates stated that “all passengers travelling to Dubai, including UAE citizens and residents, tourists, and passengers connecting in Dubai, must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate from August 1.”

“If the UAE government has specified a designated laboratory in your country of origin, then you must get your certificate from that lab. You must bring a printed test certificate. A digital version on a phone will not be accepted,” it added.