COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test for travel to Dubai (+ Abu Dhabi)

kinsae112

We're planning a family holiday to Dubai for half term (with a day trip/or overnight in Abu Dhabi during our trip).  This will be our first international travel since 2018 so trying to navigate all the travel covid testing for the first time.  Can anyone kindly assist with two questions

1) UAE's entry requirements seem to require a negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test cert for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.  I'm aware the NHS PCRs aren't acceptable but question is, is this RT-PCR test the same as the travel PCR?  I can't see anywhere local (London) that's offering a "RT-PCR" but I have found lots of places offering the travel "PCR".  

2) We want to go to Abu Dhabi (by car) during our stay in Dubai (either for the day or an overnight stay).  Will we need more tests to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and then back to Dubai?

Thanks!

Sandtree

Yes, covid PCR tests use the the reverse transcriptase method

From what I understand is that there have been borders and checkpoints put in between the emirates but the requirements have been changing fairly frequently so probably worth checking closer to your travel time (not sure when half term is) 

sheramber

kinsae112 said:

We're planning a family holiday to Dubai for half term (with a day trip/or overnight in Abu Dhabi during our trip).  This will be our first international travel since 2018 so trying to navigate all the travel covid testing for the first time.  Can anyone kindly assist with two questions

1) UAE's entry requirements seem to require a negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test cert for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.  I'm aware the NHS PCRs aren't acceptable but question is, is this RT-PCR test the same as the travel PCR?  I can't see anywhere local (London) that's offering a "RT-PCR" but I have found lots of places offering the travel "PCR".  

2) We want to go to Abu Dhabi (by car) during our stay in Dubai (either for the day or an overnight stay).  Will we need more tests to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and then back to Dubai?

Thanks!

Are you sure it is 72 hours and not 48 hours