Emirates to fly vaccinated residents to 19 countries

Our Correspondent

Dubai’s carrier Emirates airline has announced that UAE residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can now travel to 19 countries quarantine-free.

The latest destination addition for Emirates is Spain. From June 7, tourists can enter Spain if they have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before the date of travel.

With this, UAE residents can choose from over 30 cities they can visit without going on quarantine.

“From July, Emirates will operate over 280 weekly flights from Dubai to cities in Europe, the US, Middle East, Africa, and other popular island getaways, for travellers who want to start their long-awaited adventures and experiences this summer without the hassle, cost or stress of quarantine,” Emirates airline said.

Travellers will have to furnish vaccination certificates upon arrival, and must have received vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), or one of the vaccines included in the WHO’s Emergency Use Listing. These include the Pfizer BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines.

Vaccinated parents can take along with them unvaccinated children under the age of six. A negative PCR test result is a must for children over the age of six.

International passengers must also complete online the Health Control Form (FCS) prior to arrival.

The destinations listed by Emirates for vaccinated residents are: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Spain, and France (all in Europe: from June 9); Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt (MENA region); Maldives, Seychelles, and Phuket in Thailand (Asia); Kenya and Tanzania (Africa); United States and Mexico.

Emirates will be operating 280 weekly flights from Dubai to the destinations in Europe, the US, the Middle East and Africa. Some destinations on the list are only open without quarantine for vaccinated travellers, but others are open to all UAE citizens and residents.

Travellers returning to Dubai do not need to quarantine; however any travellers continuing to Abu Dhabi must follow the rules relating to Green List or vaccine corridor countries. The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has announced that all who apply for a new residency visa or renew an existing one in Abu Dhabi need to carry a negative PCR test report before getting their medical test done.