BRITS are keen to leave lockdown for Dubai's white, sandy beaches.
But will the holiday hotspot be on the green list for foreign holiday destinations published on Friday?
Will Dubai be on the green list for summer holidays?
Brits hope that the Caribbean and the UAE may make the cut for green list destinations.
But at this stage, it appears unlikely that Dubai will on the green list for summer holidays. Which means it may end up on the amber list, or – even worse – the red list.
CNBC reports: "The UAE's potentially indefinite status on the UK’s 'red list' for travel has stoked anger and confusion."
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps indicated the Gulf state might stay on the red list as it's an international transit hub – despite its falling Covid cases and a successful vaccination campaign.
“We’re not restricting the UAE due to the level of coronavirus in the UAE,” Shapps told an aviation event, adding, "the issue is one of transit".
Just a handful of locations are likely to go onto the green list – meaning visitors won't have to quarantine when they return home.
But even those countries – likely to include Gibraltar, Malta, Israel and Iceland – could turn red without notice if cases surge or new mutations are identified, it's reported.
Portugal is the only major European holiday destination that could make it onto the list, set to be revealed on Friday.
Boris Johnson is currently deciding which countries will open to British travellers ahead of restrictions easing on May 17.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman told The Sun Online that updates to the travel advice will be published on its UAE travel advice page.
"We keep our travel advice under constant review, but I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to give prior notice on speculation about future changes," she added.
What are the Dubai travel rules?
The Covid pandemic continues to affect international travel to and from the UK.
It is illegal to travel abroad from the UK for holidays at this time.
Foreign Office bosses "advise against all but essential travel to the whole of the United Arab Emirates based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks".
Flights from the UAE to England, Wales and Northern Ireland are banned.
Visitors arriving into the UK who have been in or transited through the UAE in the previous 10 days will not be permitted entry.
British and Irish nationals, and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK arriving in England from the UAE will continue to be required to quarantine in a hotel.
Britain, in mid-January, closed a travel corridor to Dubai that had allowed travellers to skip quarantine over what was described as a significant acceleration in the number of imported Covid cases from the UAE.
This happened after there was anger over bikini-clad British influencers sharing boastful pics of themselves partying in Dubai.
“International travel, right now, should not be happening unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock said back then.
He warned there should be “no parties in Paris or weekends in Dubai. That is not on and in most cases, it’s against the law.”
Travel to the UAE is still subject to entry restrictions:
- All tourists, visitors and residents travelling from or through the UK and arriving in Dubai or Abu Dhabi must have a negative Covid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.
- This must have been taken no more than 72 hours before departure and the certificate has to be presented at check in.
- Travellers arriving in Dubai may be required to undertake a further PCR test on arrival and will have to isolate pending the result.
Are the travel rules different for the rest of UAE?
The rules are the same for the rest of the UAE but there are additional rules for those travelling to Abu Dhabi:
- While residents returning to Dubai still need to get the official OK, those returning to other parts of the UAE no longer need to get approval.
- Travellers arriving in Abu Dhabi will also be required to undertake a Covid PCR test on arrival.
- Travellers entering Abu Dhabi must wear a government-provided wristband.
- They also have to complete a minimum 10-day period of self-isolation or quarantine and have up to two further PCR tests on days six and 12 after their arrival.
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