Travelling From United Arab Emirates to Spain: The Latest Rules and Regulations You Need to Know

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Last updated 9 June 2021

As more and more countries are opening up their borders for global travellers who have been fully vaccinated, Emiratis can look forward to travelling to a growing list of overseas destinations.

One of these destinations is Spain, a country famous for its beautifully preserved villages and breathtaking Mediterranean coastline. But while the country is now open, restrictions remain in place for anyone wishing to travel to Spain.

So can you travel to Spain from the UAE? Keep on reading to find out.

Can I travel from the UAE to Spain?

Yes, you can. Spain has recently opened their borders for fully vaccinated leisure travellersfrom around the world with the exceptions of India, Brazil and South Africa.

The Spanish government has announced that the country is now welcoming travellers arriving from countries outside the EU and countries associated with the Schengen free-travel area.

Passengers will be permitted to enter Spain if they have been administered the full doses of a Covid-19 vaccine approved by either the World Health Organization (WHO) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA), more than 14 days prior to arrival.

Spain entry requirements

Before travelling to Spain, all passengers are required to complete a health control formfor those planning to arrive by air. Those arriving by sea must instead fill out this form.

All passengers arriving in Spain by air or sea must undergo a health control at the first point of entry that will include, at least, a temperature control, a documentary check and a visual check on their condition.

All passengers arriving in Spain from a country/zone of risk by air, sea or land, must have a valid health certificate to enter Spain, which may be in the form of the following:

• A vaccination against COVID19certificate,
• A certificate of SARSCoV2 diagnostic test with negative result,
• A COVID-19 recovery certificate,

These certificates can be added to the SpTH app, during the process of obtaining the QR code.

Vaccination requirements

All travellers must complete their vaccination regimen with any vaccine authorized for marketing by the European Union (European Medicines Agency, EMA) and WHO at least 14 days before arriving in Spain. These vaccines are Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Janssen, Sinopharm and Sinovac-Coronavac.

Testing requirements

Those who have not been vaccinated must undergo a diagnostic test to enter Spain. The admitted tests will be:

• Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), which detect the genetic material of the virus (eg PCR, TMA, LAMP, NEAR etc.)
• Rapid antigen detection tests (RAT), which detect the presence of virus antigens.

The test must be taken within 48 hours before arrival.

Children under 6 years of age are exempt from presenting the certificates described above, however, they must have the QR code obtained after completing the health control form.

Quarantine requirements

Travelers to Spain are not currently subject to any quarantine requirement unless directed by Spanish authorities upon arrival in Spain due to specific circumstances.

Exceptions being for arrivals from Indiatravelling for exceptional reasons. They must remain in quarantine for 10 days after arrival in Spain.

Flying out of the UAE

Apart from the regulations enforced by Spain, there are also exit requirements put in place by the UAE for citizens and residents looking to travel abroad.

Before departing the UAE, Emiratis and expatriate residents must adhere to these conditions:

• apply for a travel request through the website of Federal Authority for Citizenship and Identity
• register in the Twajudi serviceprior to travel
• undergo a Covid-19 test before travel, provided the test result dates back to no more than 48 hours before the travel date. The traveller must display the test result at the UAE's airports through the Al HOSN app. (This requirement depends on the country of destination)
• obtain international medical insurance covering the country of destination, which is Spain in this case
• fill the required individual health accountability form, which includes an agreement to undergo quarantine upon return to the UAE and not to go to destinations other than the ones applied to
• comply with preventive measures at the airports including wearing face masks, gloves, regular sanitisation of hands and maintaining physical distance

From Abu Dhabi

UAE nationals and expatriates need to do an RT-PCR test at any government-accredited medical facilitywithin 96 hours before departure. Children under 12 and people with severe and moderate disabilities are exempt from RT-PCR testing.

To avoid having to take two tests, make sure to take the test within 48 hours before boarding, so as to satisfy both the Emirati as well as the Spanish preconditions.

From Dubai

Dubai residents travelling out of the country need to get tested before departure only if it is required in the destination country. In this case, it is.

From Sharjah

The Sharjah government requires those travelling internationally from the Emirate to present a negative RT-PCR test result, conducted no more than 96 hours before the date of travel, and have international health insurance with coverage in the destination country.

To avoid having to take two tests, make sure to take the test 48 hours before boarding, so as to satisfy both, Emirati as well as the Spanish preconditions.

Flight schedules from the UAE to Spain

The international airports in Madrid and Barcelona are the countries busiest. Emirates and Etihad both have scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, servicing different destinations in Spain.

From Dubai

Emirates

• To Madrid: one daily flight, 5 days a week
• To Barcelona: multiple daily flights, 5 days a week

Etihad

• To Madrid: multiple flights, every day
• To Barcelona: multiple flights, 2 days a week

Book cheap flights from Dubai to Spain here

From Abu Dhabi

Etihad

• To Madrid: multiple flights, every day
• To Barcelona: multiple flights, every day

Book cheap flights from Abu Dhabi to Spain here

Is it safe to travel to Spain?

The Spanish government through the Spanish Health Minister's statementhas said that Spain is welcoming tourists once more assuring travellers worldwide that 'Spain is a safe destination,' and that Spain is 'in a position to soon regain our world tourism leadership.'

Naturally, travelling has always posed a certain risk for travellers, especially in light of the current pandemic. But if you comply with the prevailing health and safety protocols there's really nothing stopping you from having a safe and enjoyable trip.

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