Today is a great day for Emirates as the country reopens its borders to international travellers. Borders were closed to foreigners since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but starting from today (July 07, 2020), travellers can now return to Dubai – their second home!
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has exposed a new special sticker that will be placed on travellers' passports, along with Dubai visa stamp, coming into the Emirates after the restrictions have been lightened. Immigration officials at the Dubai Airport have put stickers on Dubai airports arrivals' passports with the message saying, "Warm welcome to your second home." The stickers will also be attached to the passports of tourists who arrive in the Emirates after the 7th of July.
A similar initiative was taken in April, as saw stickers placed on the Dubai passport of those who left the country. Farewell stickers were attached to passports of people taking repatriation flights out of Dubai with the message "Have a safe flight, we'll meet soon".
Brigadier Talal Ahmad Al Shanqiti, general director assistant of Ports Affairs in GDRFA-Dubai, said that "Since the flights resumed, Dubai airports witnessed an increase in the number of passengers. It will be a boost for the economic and investment sectors and restore hope in the tourism sector".
The main tourist attractions and business centres will be open totally from today.
Dubai currently has 2 Special stickers for passports in Dubai airports: Welcome to your second home!: Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport (also known as Dubai World Central).
Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, Director-General of GDRFA-Dubai, argued that "the resumption of flights through Dubai airports is a major step towards the resumption of post-COVID-19 pandemic economic activities".
Total coronavirus cases equal to 52,068 in the United Arab Emirates until today. There are 324 deaths and more than 40.000 recovered people. The number of daily new cases are around 400-700. There was a significant decrease in total cases in the middle of June, but the number is increasing gradually since the beginning of July.
World Health Organization evaluated "good" United Arab Emirates for handling COVID-19 cases in the last five months period.
In order to confirm they are COVID-negative, tourists are recommended to perform a PCR test with a limited duration of 4 days (96 hours) prior to departure time. Tourists with COVID-negative certificates may enter Dubai and engage in activities without experiencing a quarantine or period of isolation.
In the case visitors are unable to provide proof, they will be expected to perform a PCR test once they arrive at Dubai Airport. In order to enter the country, travellers and tourists must have a good health insurance policy. Filling out the 'Health Declaration Form' before embarking on the journey is also mandatory.