Revealed: Covid-19 test validity for Indians travelling to 3 UAE cities

Dubai - The test should have been taken 96 hours before departure for Abu Dhabi and Dubai flights, and no later than 72 hours for flights to Sharjah.

Indian passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have different requirements when it comes to the validity of the Covid-19 test they take before travel.

According to a Facebook post by Air India Express, for Indians travelling to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the PCR test can be taken up to 96 hours before departure. For expats travelling to Sharjah, the test should have been taken no later than 72 hours before departure.

Furthermore, the test should be taken from a government-approved laboratory. Full list of labs across India can be found here.

Three UAE airlines are among five carriers that are operating special repatriation flights to take Indians home and for residents currently in India to return to the UAE from July 12 to 26. This is part of an agreement signed between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries.

Passengers who travelled back to the UAE on special flights had earlier told Khaleej Times that some residents were not allowed to board the flight as their tests were done at non-accredited centres.