Priti Patel reveals government’s new travel quarantine rules

Dubai has hit many headlines in recent weeks for attracting hordes of influencers escaping the chilly lockdown in the UK. However, trips to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could imminently be made much more complicated, throwing the travel plans of anyone in Dubai into chaos. An expert has cautioned the UAE may be added to the hotel quarantine list today in his travel advice.

The initial list of 30 countries was announced yesterday and mainly covers South American and southern African countries as well as Portugal.

However, Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy, The PC Agency, has warned that more nations could be added to this “red list”.

This was the case with the travel corridor list last year which saw almost weekly additions and removals.

“Expect more to be added (possibly #UAE #Kenya #Ethiopia),” Charles posted on Twitter.

He expects announcements on the list to be given in the 5pm Government briefing today.

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The expert added that the hotel quarantine requirement will likely come into force week after next.

“New measures likely to start week of February 8,” he tweeted.

According to John Hopkins University data, the UAE currently has 289,086 confirmed cases of Covid.

The latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice states: “Tourists and visitors travelling from or through the UK and arriving in Dubai after 8am on Saturday January 16 must have a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test which was taken no more than 96 hours before departure and present the certificate at check in.”

It added: “Travellers may also be required to undertake a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai regardless of whether they were tested before departure.”

The FCDO continued: “Travellers who test positive for COVID-19 on arrival in the UAE will be required to quarantine for at least 10 days even if they had a negative COVID-19 PCR test before travelling.”

So which other countries are currently on the hotel quarantine list?

Angola

Argentina

Bolivia

Botswana

Brazil

Cape Verde

Chile

Colombia

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ecuador

Eswatini

French Guiana

Guyana

Lesotho

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)

Seychelles

South Africa

Suriname

Tanzania

Uruguay

Venezuela

Zambia

Zimbabwe

The Government ays of the above countries: “People who have been in or transited through the countries listed in the last 10 days will not be granted access to the UK.

“This does not include British and Irish Nationals, or third-country nationals with residence rights in the UK, who will be able to enter the UK but are required to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival along with their household.

“You cannot use the Test to Release scheme.”

Anyone arriving in the UK will also need to show proof of a negative Covid test.

“You must have valid proof of a negative coronavirus test to travel to England. You must take the test in the three days before you start your journey,” said the Government.

“You will need to present proof of your negative test before you board to travel to England.

“If you don’t present proof of a negative test result certificate, you may not be able to board your transport to England.

“You could be fined £500 when you arrive at the border if you cannot provide proof that you have had a negative coronavirus test.”

“You must take the test in the three days before you start your journey,” said the Government, or risk a £500 fine.

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