Dubai prepares to welcome international visitors back in July

Dubai, renowned for its luxury resorts, designer shopping malls, pristine beaches and futuristic architecture, is preparing to welcome tourists back on 7 July with conditions.

International visitors can return to Dubai on 7 July, while those with residency visas are allowed to enter from 22 June, giving fresh hopes that the tourism-dependant emirate can quickly bounce back from the coronavirus shutdown. Those entering Dubai must have international health insurance covering COVID-19 and present health documentation to certify that they have recently tested negative for the coronavirus, or undergo tests in the airport upon arrival. Citizens and residents are permitted to travel overseas from 23 June.

“The new announcement will allow thousands of people affected by the worldwide restrictions in passenger air traffic since the start of the pandemic to resume their travel plans,” Dubai's government media office said in a statement.

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Emirates – Dubai’s state-owned airline – has implemented new health and safety protocols ahead of the borders reopening, including complimentary hygiene kits for passengers containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes. As early as April, the airline became the first airline in the world to conduct pre-flight rapid COVID-19 testing for passengers and began implementing "enhanced disinfection" between flights.

People in the water at Jumeirah Beach with the Dubai skyline in the distance ©R.A.R. de Bruijn Holding BV/Shutterstock

Dubai imposed some of the world's strictest lockdown restrictions when the coronavirus outbreak hit the Gulf region, immediately cancelling tourist visas and passenger flights on 25 March. But in recent weeks, as restrictions have begun to ease, shopping malls have reopened, a number of flights have resumed and beaches are welcoming sunbathers again with strict social-distancing measures.

"Beach-goers are required to maintain a distance of two metres between one another, along with their sun-beds, while there should be a gap of four metres between two groups of people and their sun-beds on the beach," Dubai’s Department of Tourism said.