Dubai opened borders for tourists from Russia in 2021
The borders have been opened for Russians and all other foreigners since July 7, 2020, so far the authorities are only in Dubai. From January 31, 2021, the following rules for the entry of tourists will apply, as reported on the ATOR website.
- They will be required to present a coronavirus-free certificate issued no later than 72 hours before departure.
- An airline may refuse to board a flight if a traveler exhibits symptoms of coronavirus.
- Upon arrival at Dubai airport, tourists will have their temperature checked. If tourists are diagnosed with COVID-19, treatment and 14-day quarantine will be carried out at their own expense.
- Be sure to have travel medical insurance with you when entering the country. How to do it quickly online is described in detail in the following video. You can do this on the Cherehapa service.
- From January 31, 2021, all travelers to Dubai, including for transit, must provide a certificate and a PCR test confirming the absence of coronavirus, which was done no later than 72 hours before arrival.
You can compare prices from leading insurance companies in Russia and apply for insurance online using the Cherehapa.ru service.
Restrictions on entry into the UAE due to coronavirus from March 17, 2020
From March 17, 2021, entry restrictions were introduced into other UAE emirates, which continue to apply today. For now, direct flights from Russia are only possible to Dubai.
Thus, the UAE has not completely closed its borders due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirate
Most often, our compatriots are interested in a tourist visa. Quite a few of our compatriots go to the East on business. It is expected that in 2021 the flow of Russians, Belarusians, etc. to Dubai will increase. After all, finding a job in Dubai is not so difficult.
What you need to know about holidays in the UAE in the 2021 season: visas, tests, entertainment
From February 19, direct flights between Minsk and Dubai will open. Belavia and Flydubai airlines announced 5 flights per week.
To counter the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the United Arab Emirates, mandatory rules have been developed for tourists regarding entry into the country and stay on its territory. We have prepared for you answers to pressing questions about traveling to Dubai in the coming months.
1. Do Belarusians need a visa to the UAE?
2. What health insurance is needed for entry?
3. Is there a mask requirement when flying to Dubai?
4. At which Dubai airport terminal do flights from Minsk arrive?
5. Do I need to take a coronavirus test to fly to Dubai?
6. Who gets tested at Dubai airport and when?
7. What happens if the test result is positive?
8. What should I do if the test is positive but other family members are negative?
9. How does the observatory in Dubai work and who is sent there?
10. Do I need to wear a mask and gloves in Dubai?
11. Who needs to keep a distance?
12. What are the fines for non-compliance with the mask regime in Dubai?
13. How do entertainment venues work in winter-spring 2021?
14. What are the rules for visiting restaurants and cafes?
15. Are amusement parks and water parks open?
16. Which beaches are available for recreation, is there a mask requirement on the beach?
17. How is food organized in hotels now? Is a buffet available?
18. Tourists from which countries are currently vacationing in the UAE?
19. Will tourists face quarantine upon returning to Belarus?
Do Belarusians need a visa to the UAE?
From January 16, 2021, a visa-free regime with the UAE began to operate; a visa is no longer required. Now citizens of Belarus, holders of ordinary national passports, can enter, exit and transit through the territory of the UAE, as well as stay there without visas for a period not exceeding 90 days from the date of entry.
What health insurance is needed for entry?
Insurance must be required to cover treatment for COVID-19. That is, to cover expenses if you get sick in the UAE and are sent to a clinic or observatory. When flying to Dubai, you are required to fill out a special declaration in which you confirm that you have such travel insurance.
Is there a mask requirement when flying to Dubai?
The general rules apply here: during check-in for the flight, during security screening, on board the aircraft and during the entire flight, passengers, including children over 6 years old, must wear protective masks. Passengers arriving at boarding without protective masks will not be allowed to board the flight.
Which Dubai airport terminal does flights from Minsk arrive at?
Due to the temporary closure of international terminal No. 1 at Dubai Airport, Belavia aircraft will arrive at Terminal No. 3, the home terminal of Emirates airlines.
Do I need to take a coronavirus test to fly to Dubai?
To visit the UAE, tourists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and a number of other countries must have negative results of a PCR test taken 72 hours before departure. The time is counted from the moment the test is taken, and not from the receipt of the results.
The PCR test must be officially translated into English or Arabic and printed. You cannot present the test electronically/SMS/via phone. Antibody or any other tests will not be accepted.
Who gets tested at Dubai Airport and when?
After arriving in Dubai, tourists are randomly given a second test (throat swab) at the airport free of charge. Those. Not all arrivals are tested. Since recently, if a tourist undergoes such a repeat test, he is not required to isolate himself in a hotel for a day. The answer comes to the phone, usually in the morning.
At Dubai Airport, you should install a special application on your phone - COVID19 DXB Smart App. You can download it in advance from both the App Store and Google Play Market. If you are unable to install the application, test results can be obtained on a special website using your passport number and last name.
What happens if the test result is positive?
If the test is positive, the tourist must be placed under observation for 14 days. Special quarantine hotels have been allocated for this purpose. But, depending on the condition, treatment may be prescribed in the clinic. The decision is made by a special commission.
What should I do if the test is positive but other family members are negative?
You came to Dubai with your family or company, took the test and it turned out to be positive, and everyone else is healthy. In this case, those who came with you will also be tested. If it is confirmed that they are healthy, they will be able to continue their holiday. The sick person will have to go to a clinic or observatory.
How does the observatory in Dubai work and who is sent there?
Comfortable hotels from three to five stars, equipped specifically for quarantine, are used as observatories. The observatory has good food and WI-FI, but you cannot leave its confines. All costs of observation or hospitalization must be covered by your insurance.
Do you need to wear a mask and gloves in Dubai?
Wearing a mask is mandatory in public places. Gloves are optional, and packages of free gloves are posted in many places.
You do not have to wear a mask if you are traveling in a car with your family, that is, with 1st and 2nd degree relatives. The same applies to exercise or when there are no people around you.
Children under 6 years old do not need to wear a mask.
Who needs to keep distance?
The rule states that a social distance of 2 meters must be maintained by everyone except first- and second-degree relatives.
1st degree relatives - husband and wife, son and daughter, brothers and sisters.
Relatives of the 2nd degree - grandparents, grandchildren and granddaughters.
Thus, if you come, for example, to the store with a company of mom, dad, grandma and grandson, then maintaining a distance between you is not required.
What are the fines for non-compliance with the mask regime in Dubai?
Police officers, robots and special drones ensure that residents and guests of the emirate wear masks correctly. The fine for violating the mask regime is 3000 AED, which is about 820 USD.
How do entertainment venues operate in winter-spring 2021?
The UAE authorities carefully and responsibly approached the organization of tourism in the country. The Emirates is now one of the safest travel destinations in the world. During the pandemic, almost 26 million coronavirus tests were taken here and 3.4 million vaccine doses were used.
Dubai has implemented a special protocol according to which hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and beaches are inspected. If all required COVID-19 prevention measures are met, a Dubai Assured certificate is issued. Receiving such a certificate means that vacation in this place is safe.
The occupancy rate for cinemas, entertainment centers and sports complexes in February is up to 50%; hotels, shopping complexes and swimming pools - up to 70% of the total capacity of the premises.
What are the rules for visiting restaurants and cafes?
Restaurants and cafes in Dubai are open, but from 02/01/2021 they are required to close no later than 01:00. Entertainment events and concerts in restaurants are prohibited. Bars and pubs have been ordered to temporarily close. The restrictions are expected to remain in effect throughout February 2021.
Tables in the cafe are located at a distance of 2 meters from each other. There are special markings on the floor to help visitors maintain distance.
You can remove your mask in a cafe or restaurant after you have sat down and placed your order. If you are going to walk around the cafe, you need to put the mask back on.
All employees of any establishments work exclusively wearing a mask.
Are amusement parks and water parks open?
Most of Dubai's popular amusement parks are open and welcoming guests. They have introduced a mask regime, reduced capacity, and disinfection. Due to anti-Covid measures, it is recommended to check whether the entertainment center / park is open on the specific day you have planned to visit it. Since such places are often closed for a day for total disinfection.
As required by the government, all theme parks have installed thermal imaging cameras to protect visitors. Hand sanitizers are available throughout and staff have been trained to monitor tourists for symptoms. Special air filters were installed on the ventilation and air conditioning systems.
Flying to Dubai: 11 options to have fun while on vacation
Every city has its own must do list, and Dubai is no exception. We'll tell you how you can have fun in the city when the water, sun and beach sand start to get boring.
What beaches are available for relaxation, is there a mask regime on the beach?
In Dubai, all public beaches are open from June 2021. The sun loungers on them are installed at a distance of 2 meters from each other.
According to the rules, you must wear masks on the beaches! They are only allowed to be removed while swimming. In addition, gatherings of more than five people, with the exception of members of the same family, are prohibited. Social distancing must be maintained.
How is food organized in hotels now, is a buffet available?
In hotel restaurants, tables are disinfected before guests are seated. Sanitizers are available everywhere.
The main innovation concerns food intake itself. Hotels have not abandoned the buffet, but self-service has been cancelled. Now tourists are served by waiters who put food on plates.
Hot dishes (omelettes, pancakes) are prepared behind a transparent plastic shield.
Tourists from which countries are currently holidaying in the UAE?
In January 2021, tourists from the CIS countries are in first place. There are many Kazakhs, Russians, Ukrainians. There are vacationers from Uzbekistan and Armenia. The number of guests from England and Israel has increased significantly.
Will tourists face quarantine upon returning to Belarus?
Quarantine after visiting the UAE and returning to Belarus, provided there is a direct flight, is not required. For a transit flight through Kyiv or Istanbul, you will have to comply with this requirement.
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Rules for entry into Dubai for Russians
Russians do not need a visa if they plan to stay in the country on a tourist visit for no more than 90 days. Arriving at the Dubai airport, you just need to present your passport at border control. In it you will receive a stamp and permission to enter the country.
Emirates Airport Dubai
Obtaining a visa for citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan
For a tourist trip to the UAE for up to 90 days, Russians do not need a visa.
Belarus
For citizens of Belarus, from January 16, 2021, the visa to the UAE is canceled. They can stay in the country without it for 90 days. Ukrainians also do not require a visa.
For a longer stay in the country, you need to extend your visa or apply for a new one for a long-term stay while inside the UAE.
This can be done at the Sharjah Visa Application Center https://uaevc.ru.
It will not be possible to simply fly out and fly in again without a visa for 90 days, since in this case the rule will apply for tourists not to spend more than 90 days in the country without a visa within 180 days.
Ukraine and Kazakhstan
Citizens of Kazakhstan and Ukrainians can enter the country without a visa with biometric passports for 90 days.
Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
For citizens of Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, there are options for obtaining a permit on their own. This can be done at visa centers; a visa can be requested at the airport when purchasing a ticket or at a hotel when making a reservation.
You will be issued permission to enter Dubai at the visa center if you need a tourist or transit visa. They will not refuse if you plan to go to the country for treatment or study.
Package of documents submitted for obtaining a visa
To submit a request for permission to stay on the territory of a given state, the applicant will need to submit the following documents:
- A valid passport with an expiration date of at least six months after the date of intended return. A passport with other expiration dates will not be considered.
- A form carefully filled out in Latin, presented on the official website. On behalf of children who have not yet reached adulthood, the document will be completed by a parent or guardian.
UAE visa application forms can be found here.
- A copy of roundtrip tickets to Dubai.
- One photo. Its size should be 4.3 by 5.5 cm.
- Copies of all completed pages of the Russian general passport.
- Written permission to process personal data issued to the visa center.
- Documents that will confirm the financial solvency of a potential guest of the Emirates.
Depending on the type of visa, the final application price may vary.
Tourist visa
Most often, tourists from other CIS countries apply for permission to enter the UAE. A tourist visa is issued for a period of no more than 29 days.
From the moment it opens, you have 60 days to visit the country. After this period, the document loses its relevance and becomes invalid.
You also need to keep in mind that if you spent more than 15 days in Dubai and other cities of the Emirates, you can again request permission to visit the country only a month after you left it.
Transit visas for citizens of other countries
A transit visa to Dubai for 48 hours is not required. Your stay can be extended for another two days for $13.6.
Just like last year, in 2021 you can obtain a transit visa yourself by requesting it at a visa center or airport when purchasing a ticket.
Example of a transit visa to Dubai
In all other cases, you need to make sure that you have the document . Requests to Emirates must be made no later than 4 days before your scheduled departure. Please note that visa processing services are closed on Friday and Saturday.
Conveniently, the request can be submitted on the official Emirates website. All necessary documents are sent electronically. If you fly anywhere via Dubai, you have the opportunity to experience an amazingly progressive young city that has a lot to offer.
You'll have a full 48 hours to visit the city's most exciting attractions. This video shows where you can go in Dubai in a few hours during transit.
To avoid traveling on your own, which is completely futile in such a metropolis, pre-book an excursion. You can find out how much it will cost you on the websites of travel companies.
What visa do you need for the UAE?
Several types of visas allow you to enter the UAE:
- guest;
- transit;
- cruise;
- working;
- tourist.
Which one should you apply for?
- Transit visa , as is clear from its name, is suitable only for those tourists who use Dubai Airport, which is quite popular in this regard, as a transfer point on the way to other countries. If the connection between flights is long, you will have to obtain a transit visa, which allows you to stay at the airport for up to 96 hours .
- A visitor visa is only suitable for tourists who travel to the Emirates at the invitation of relatives living there on long-term visas.
- A cruise visa , of course, is issued to those who find themselves in the UAE for a short time during a cruise on a ship.
- Working – for those who have received an invitation to work in one of the country’s companies.
- If you just want to spend a holiday in the UAE, you will need to apply for the latest and most popular type of visa - tourist . It is one-time and allows you to stay in the country for up to 29 days .
Documents required to obtain a tourist visa to Dubai
In 2021, the requirements for documents required to obtain a visa to the UAE have not changed. Whether you apply for your Emirates visa through your hotel or a visa application center does not matter.
Whether you are going to do this yourself, or intend to use the services of travel agencies, you need to present the following list of documents:
- A color copy of the information page of your passport. It must remain valid for at least three months after the end of your trip. It is advisable that it be valid for another six months;
- if you are traveling with a child listed in your passport, you should make a scan of the page with data about him;
- Color photo. Two sizes are allowed: 3×4 cm and 3.5×4.5 cm. There should be no corners or ovals in the photograph. Only light backgrounds are allowed. The photo must be no older than 6 months at the time of presentation. It is also necessary to present photographs of the children included in the passport.
This concludes the list of documents for those who plan to visit Dubai for tourism purposes on their own or with the help of travel agencies. You need to send everything that is indicated in the list online to the website of the Emirates, hotel or visa center, fill out a short form and wait for a response to arrive at the email address specified in the application.
This response must be printed for presentation at Emirates Airport upon arrival in the country.
Registration through a travel agency
It is even easier to obtain a visa through a tour operator. Prepare documents and submit them to the travel agency:
- Color photocopy of the international passport;
- Scan of color photograph 4.3*5.5cm;
- Completed application form.
If other documents are required, your tour operator will inform you. Next, he will contact the Consulate himself and receive your ID code to cross the UAE border.
Documents for a transit visa
Those who have a layover in Dubai must present the above list of documents to obtain a visa. Transit guests traveling through Dubai apply for a visa under almost the same conditions as tourists. You need to be prepared for the fact that at the airport they may request a certificate of employment (sample in Russian, in English).
Certificate from place of work
It is important that it indicates a salary amount of at least 40,000 rubles. An indicator of financial solvency can also be a bank account statement indicating an amount of at least $10,000. It also reassures vigilant customs officers that you have received a Schengen visa within the last 5 years.
What documents are needed for children
According to UAE law, children can enter the country only if accompanied by their closest relatives. This could be either parents or grandparents. If a child enters Dubai with a grandparent, the customs service will request a notarized copy of the birth certificate of one of the parents, which will confirm the relationship of the child and the persons accompanying him.
A copy of the child's birth certificate must also be provided. This document, like the parental birth certificate, must be translated into English and notarized.
A copy of the child's birth certificate.
Also at Emirates airport they may require a copy of the parents' permission to take the child out. You must provide a copy in Russian and attach a notarized copy in English.
Sample parental permission to remove a child
It is worth making sure that all the listed documents are in perfect order.
If the child is included in the parents’ passport, there is no need to apply for a visa. If you have a foreign passport, a UAE visa for children is issued. They also pay a consular fee.
Features of a UAE visa
To obtain a visa, it is important to remember some features inherent in the Emirates visa regime:
- The validity of the visa cannot be extended except in exceptional conditions (the tourist lives in a five-star hotel, which has confirmation of payment from him for a period beyond the validity of the visa, and is ready to provide the tourist with his guarantee).
- There are no official instructions on this, but unmarried women under 32 years of age, as well as married women who have not taken their husband’s surname, are at risk of visa refusal. To avoid troubles, girls are recommended to book hotels at 4* level and above.
- The airport of arrival in the United Arab Emirates must coincide with the airport of departure from the country.
- They do not give visas to holders of Israeli passports , although an Israeli visa in a Russian passport and a stamp about crossing the border with Israel, contrary to popular belief, is not a reason for refusing a visa.
- Although most hotels require a deposit upon arrival, sometimes young people under 25 years of age are asked to leave a security deposit at the visa application center, which is returned to them upon arrival.
- Unlike other countries , in the UAE a visa will not be given to a child traveling without at least one of the parents, even if both parents write a power of attorney for the accompanying person.
Cost of visa application
If you apply for a tourist visa yourself, it will cost about $60. The cost of a UAE visa depends on which application route you choose. If you contact travel agencies, an entry permit will cost from 80 to 100 dollars. A transit visa will cost approximately US$45.
If we are talking about a multiple visa for a period of no more than 90 days, you will have to pay about 183 USD for it. A similar permit for 90 days will cost 463 USD.
Before you start applying for a permit, find out how much you need to pay in a particular service and choose the most promising options.
If you need urgent paperwork, such a service will cost almost one and a half times more.
Types of visas
After obtaining a visa to the UAE, you can independently visit this state only as a tourist. In all other cases, a slightly more complex procedure will be required. At the moment, there are several options for such a permit to stay in the United Arab Emirates.
When starting the registration process, you must initially clearly understand the purpose of the receipt and imagine the direction of your activities in this country.
Watch the video: types of visas in the UAE
Today there is a whole list of visas:
- tourist;
- working;
- cruise;
- resident;
- guest;
- business visa.
Consequences of violating the visa regime
Tourists need to be very careful in terms of observing the duration of their stay in the UAE. Staying on the territory of the state on an expired visa will be extremely expensive. In case of delay, the immigration service may impose a one-time fine of $2,500 on the violator. In addition, for each day the unlucky tourist will be charged another $41.
Extending your visa in Dubai is difficult. The basis may be a room paid in advance in a five-star hotel. You can also present a guarantee to the administration of a reputable hotel in the city. As a rule, the extension period is equal to the period for which the visa was originally issued.
