The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has joined Rwanda and Burundi in being placed on the UK’s ‘red list’.
This means that no direct flights will be available and any passengers travelling from these destinations, including Dubai or Abu Dhabi, will need to travel via a third country to reach the UK.
The new rules come into force from 1pm on Friday 29 January. From then, only British nationals and those with residence rights in the UK will be allowed to enter the UK, anyone else will be turned away.
British nationals or residency holders will be required to isolate for the full 10-day period, along with their entire household, and will not be eligible to use the test and release scheme that enables them to shorten their quarantine period.
Those arriving in the UK will also need proof of a negative Covid-19 test, taken up to 72 hours before departure, and a completed passenger locator form before arrival. Those who fail to provide the relevant documentation face fines of up to £500 each.
Currently, UK residents are not permitted to travel abroad unless for legally permitted reasons, such as essential work purposes. Therefore, anyone affected by this recent change in guidance may only be able to put in a travel insurance claim for additional costs incurred if they can provide evidence from their employer that the trip was essential.
