10/11/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/11/2021 03:15
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Updated 11 October 2021
The UAE, along with 38 other countries including the US and the UK, had previously put a travel ban on India. In August 2021, however, flights resumed operations and Indians wanting to travel to the UAE were finally allowed to book their seats. Further exemptions have also allowed Indian travellers to enter the emirates for leisure and business purposes.
Read on to know more about current flight news for UAE-India travel.
Can you travel from India to the UAE?
The UAE no longer bans flights from India and Indians with a valid residency visa can now travel to the Emirates, if they are fully vaccinated and adhere to the necessary entry requirements.
After several months, the UAE has lifted restrictions on return of fully vaccinated residents from several counties including India. A new set of relaxed travel guidelines by the country's National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA) and Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) came into effect starting September 12.
Who is eligible for entry?
Vaccinated travellers
Indian travellers who have received both doses of a WHO-approved vaccine can fly to the emirates. They must have received the second vaccine dose at least 14 days before travel.
Entry requirements
Before travelling to the UAE, eligible passengers to travel to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah need to receive approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA). Registration for arriving individuals is available on the ICA app and website. Those who wish to travel should start with filling in personal and passport details, residency address in the UAE, then uploading vaccine details and attaching proofs.
If they reside in Dubai, they'll also need pre-entry approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
However, registering vaccination certificates is optional for travellers who wish to enjoy the benefits made available in the UAE to vaccine recipients. Only certificates of vaccines approved in the UAE will be approved, and accredited certificates will show on the AlHosn app.
Testing and quarantine
Individuals can fly between the two countries but will be subject to the following measures:
To recap, eligible Indian travellers with tourist visas/UAE residency need to:
Tourist visa for India to UAE
Therefore, Indian passport holders with tourist visas can enter UAE jurisdiction. Travellers who are fully vaccinated can now start applying for tourist visas and directly journey to the UAE.
Unvaccinated tourist visa holders, on the other hand, will be able to visit UAE only if they haven't been in India in the last 14 days. Except for the 14-day stay at a third country requirement, other requirements will vary for every emirate.
Visa on arrival
Indian Nationals with a normal passport who are travelling to or from India via Dubai can obtain a visa on arrival in Dubai for a maximum stay of 14 days provided they:
The visa issued by United States, United Kingdom or European Union has to be valid for a minimum of 6 months
India to UAE flights
Air India
Individuals in the exempted categories can still travel back to the UAE with Air India.
Air India operates regularly scheduled flights from major Indian cities to Dubai.
Air India also has regular flights to Abu Dhabi.
While other airlines such as Spice Jet and IndiGo are usually scheduled to travel to UAE, currently the airline with the most flight availability is mentioned.
If you want to change the booking to any later date, the difference in the current and future fares will be additionally chargeable.
If you want to cancel your booking and get a refund, no charges will be applicable.
For more details, click here.
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Emirates
If you have booked tickets before 1 April 2021 for travel on or before 31 December 2021, you can keep the ticket with you and choose to fly any time with Emirates in 36 months from the date of your original booking, or you can request a refund.
If you have booked tickets after 1 April 2021, you can either change the dates or and ask for a refund at no extra charge. All such tickets will be valid for 24 months.
If you want to use the ticket to travel later on, just keep it safe with you till then. It will be accepted for any flight to the same destination or within the same region, in the same or any class, depending on the date of your booking.
If you want to change the flight booking, call Emirates if you booked directly, or your travel agent.
If you want a refund, apply here.
For more details, click here.
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Etihad
Etihad keeps its tickets open for you to use whenever you feel confident about travelling. Essentially, you have four options.
For more details, click here.
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