Double-jabbed, residency permit holders can re-enter UAE now

MANGALURU: While Indians back home for holidays or exigencies have been grabbing opportunities to return to work and save their jobs in United Arab Emirates (UAE), the limited options available till now were burning a hole in their pockets.
But with the UAE’s National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority tweeting on Tuesday that people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and holding valid residency permits will be allowed into UAE from Thursday, the long ordeal of expatriates may be over.
The only option available was a quarantine package that involved travelling to another country which is under the green list of UAE, quarantine for 14 days and then enter UAE. However, this option was expensive: It was 10-15 times costlier than a oneway ticket, and there is also no guarantee that by the time expats finish their quarantine, the rules won’t change, barring their entry into UAE.
As of now, the available options include chartered flights from India to UAE via Tashkent in Uzbekistan or through Armenia, and individual packages via Male in Maldives and Doha. All these options cost a minimum of Rs 1.3 lakh for double occupancy stay at the quarantined country, or upwards of Rs 1.7 lakh for single occupancy in a three-star or similar hotel.
Travel industry sources said the quarantine packages started in the middle of May and are continuing even now. Though they do not have the exact numbers, travel agents here estimate that 700-800 people have travelled to the UAE, exercising these options.
William D’Souza, MD, Globe Travels, said the only quarantine package available directly from Mangaluru is to Doha in Qatar, which costs upwards of Rs 2 lakh on double occupancy rates for a single person. Eulalia D’Souza of Lia Tours and Travels, said while chartered flight options start from Bengaluru, Kochi and New Delhi, only the Doha option is available directly from Mangaluru, and to the Maldives from Bengaluru.
The price of the package includes meals (since the person cannot go outside), cost of visa, airport transfers and cost of RT-PCR test.
In welcome news, UAE’s National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority posted on Twitter that travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and hold valid residency permits will be allowed into the country from Thursday. Travellers need to apply for online entry permits prior to travelling, and need a negative RT-PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure.