Dubai sets stricter rules for inbound visitors as COVID-19 cases surge

A tourist receives instruction at Dubai airport in the United Arab Emirates on July 8, 2020. (AFP/File)
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Updated 28 January 2021
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Dubai sets stricter rules for inbound visitors as COVID-19 cases surge

  • UAE nationals are exempt from pre-flight PCR tests but would be required to test upon arrival in Dubai
  • Three vaccines are now being used in the country’s vaccination program

DUBAI: Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said pre-flight PCR tests will be required from all inbound visitors regardless of country of departure as of Jan. 31, state news agency WAM reported.
The committee has also decreased the test’s validity period to 72 hours from the 96 hours, the report added.
Some visitors will also be required to do another PCR test upon arrival, dependent on their country of departure.
Meanwhile, UAE nationals are exempt from pre-flight PCR tests but would be required to test upon arrival in Dubai.
The Gulf country continued to report a record number of daily cases for the 16th day in a row.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention on Wednesday confirmed 3,939 new cases, increasing the total number of infected individuals since the start of the pandemic to 289,086.
The ministry also reported six new COVID-19 deaths and 4,536 recoveries, increasing the death toll to 811 and the number of recovered patients to 263,730.
The UAE also reported that 86,770 doses of the coronavirus vaccine were administered on Wednesday, bumping total number of jabs in the country to 2,764,445 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 27.95 doses per 100 people.
Three vaccines are now being used in the country’s vaccination program: those developed by Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech and the Russian Sputnik V.


Italy summons Israeli ambassador over Ramallah gun threat

Updated 5 sec ago
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Italy summons Israeli ambassador over Ramallah gun threat

  • Italian foreign ministry says two of its police officers were threatened at gunpoint
ROME: The Italian government said Monday it was summoning the Israeli ambassador to Rome after two of its police officers were threatened at gunpoint near Ramallah.
The two carabinieri officers, stationed at Italy’s consulate general in Jerusalem, “were stopped in Palestinian territory, near Ramallah, probably by a ‘settler’ under the threat of an automatic rifle,” a foreign ministry statement said.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani requested the ambassador be summoned “to seek clarification” and confirm Italy’s “strong protest” over Sunday’s incident, the ministry said.
Italy’s embassy in Tel Aviv had lodged a formal protest over the incident, the ministry added.