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Advisories to know before traveling to Dubai

dubai marina
A view of the Dubai Marina. Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters
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COVID-19 Protocol

According to the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as of September 2021, tourists must present a negative result of an RT-PCR test to enter. To visit Dubai, a PCR test must be taken 96 hours before departure from an approved facility. Additionally, some will be tested again upon arrival.

If a positive test is received, you must isolate for as many days as recommended by the emirate of the residence you're staying in. Those who fail to quarantine can end up with a violation fine of AED 50,000.

Note that travelers coming from select countries have different requirements than others. Before coming to Dubai, check the list of rules by country to prepare for your trip and plan ahead for the required tests you'll need to take.

Consider downloading the Alhosn application, the digital platform for sharing COVID-19 tests and vaccination status in the United Arab Emirates. You can also check the Ministry of Health for updates on safety protocols. 

Weather

According to US News, the best time to visit Dubai is from November to March to avoid triple-digit temperatures and high levels of humidity.

Regardless of when you travel, continue to monitor the weather and book hotel reservations in advance. 

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Carolina Gazal is a freelance lifestyle writer at Insider. She was previously a Freelance Fellow, where she edited articles covering food, entertainment, travel, and celebrities.  She holds a BA honors degree in English and Communications from Boston College. You can email her at gazalcarolina@gmail.com.