Mandatory certificates for residents returning to the UAE

Our Correspondent

For Indian residents who are planning to return to the UAE, a valid pre-departure General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) approval is required if his/her destination is Dubai or Sharjah, according to a leading airline.

Air India Express has said that passengers need a Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) approval to enter any other airport in the country.  According to the FAQs posted on the Air India Express blog for travellers on the India-UAE sector, the airline has said only resident permit holders can book tickets on these flights.

All passengers landing in Abu Dubai, Dubai and Sharjah must have a negative COVID-19 test result from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-approved laboratories. The UAE government has permitted entry into the country for a limited period between July 12 and July 26. A UAE resident permit holder returning to Dubai should carry:

(i) A valid ICA or GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs) approval if you are going to Dubai;

(ii) A valid Negative COVID-19 PCR test report from a government-approved laboratory;

(iii) Health Declaration and Quarantine Undertaking forms to be filled and submitted at the Dubai Airport on arrival and;

(iv) A downloaded COVID-19 – DXB Smart App.

However, passengers with expired ICA/ GDRFA approval will not be accepted at check-in. If you are a resident permit holder returning to Abu Dhabi you should carry all of the above and also must have an ICA approval. A passenger returning to Sharjah must carry all the above documents, but approval can be from ICA or GDRFA.

A valid Negative COVID-19 PCR test report from a government-approved laboratory, no older than 96 hours prior to departure, is mandatory for travel to Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

When you arrive in Dubai, you must take a PCR test at the airport and remain in your residence until you receive the test result. If the test result is positive, you will be required to undergo isolation and follow the Dubai Health Authority guidelin

PCR testing and temperature screening is in operation at Abu Dhabi airport and in Sharjah, PCR testing is undertaken on arrival. Another important point to note is that currently, only resident permit holders returning to UAE are allowed to travel for a limited period from July 12 to July 26 from India.