UAE flights: Do India, Pakistan passengers need GDRFA, ICA approvals?

UAE flights: Do India, Pakistan passengers need GDRFA, ICA approvals?

Rapid Covid PCR tests have been scrapped for travellers from the subcontinent

Published: Wed 23 Feb 2022, 11:14 AM

The UAE airlines have dropped the requirement for the rapid PCR test taken at the airport for travellers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This includes Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates, budget carrier flydubai, Sharjah’s low-cost airline Air Arabia and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways.

In addition, some airlines from the Indian Subcontinent have also confirmed to Khaleej Times that rapid PCR test requirement has been done away with for passengers from the four Subcontinent countries.

Below is an updated guide for passengers travelling from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to different cities of the UAE related to Covid-19 PCR tests as well as approvals from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICA).

In addition to the UAE carriers, airlines from the subcontinent are also implementing these new rules for the UAE-bound passengers.

Travellers from the Indian Subcontinent to Dubai:

Below are guidelines for passengers flying to Dubai with Emirates and other airlines:

•Passengers must present a negative Covid 19 PCR test certificate with a QR code

•The test must have been conducted within 48 hours,