UAE resumes conditional entries for Sri Lankans

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resumed accepting travellers from Sri Lanka subject to conditions. Major UAE carriers Emirates and Etihad have announced entry requirements. 

As per Emirates, transit passengers must hold a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate for a test taken 72 hours or less prior to departure as required by their final destination. 

All passengers with a valid UAE residence visa, who have been fully vaccinated in the UAE and who hold an official vaccination certificate issued and approved by relevant authorities in the UAE, are permitted to return to the UAE. At least 14 days must have passed since the last required dose of the vaccine was administered. 

Exemptions for non-vaccinated passengers: Holders of golden and silver visas, and diplomats; healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and technicians; education sector workers including professors, teachers and students studying in the UAE; Government employees; and exhibitors and participants who are under the sponsorship of EXPO 2020.

All passengers must comply with the following: Dubai visa holders must apply for pre-entry approval through General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA); passengers must have a valid COVID-19 test certificate issued within 48 hours between the time of sample collection and scheduled flight departure; only COVID-19 PCR test reports from certified labs that issue a QR code linked to the original report will be accepted; passengers must complete a COVID-19 rapid test four hours before the departure of their flight; and passengers must complete a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

UAE Nationals are exempted from the above requirements but will be subjected to a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

Etihad said passengers with valid residence visas, who got all the vaccination doses in UAE and completed 14 days after the second dose, had the vaccination certificate issued by UAE governmental health authorities (including the certificate in Al Hosn app), could return to the UAE. 

Passengers should submit their application and get prior ICA approval through the website uaeentry.ica.gov.ae. UAE residents need to upload their vaccination certificate to the ICA website (https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/registerArrivals), if fully vaccinated before 14 days of departure. 

Travellers must have a negative PCR certificate test taken within 48 hours before departure from accredited labs with a QR code. Passengers should have an additional Rapid PCR test before boarding in the origin airport. Passengers will be subject to quarantine for 10 days wearing the tracking medical wristband on arrival.

Transit travellers need to ensure that passengers will be allowed entry at their final destination. Negative PCR reports from a test taken within 72 hours before departure from accredited labs with a QR code or the final destination PCR validity requirement, if more restrictive, will be needed.