Everything you need to know about travelling from the UAE to the UK
United Kingdom is one of the most frequently visited destinations in Europe from the UAE. Whether you have an upcoming business trip or are heading on a family vacation, the UK has plenty to offer everyone. The rich history, lush countryside and endless diversity make it a must-visit. Here’s a guide to everything you need to know about travelling from the UAE to the UK.
WHY SHOULD YOU VISIT THE UK FROM THE UAE?
The UK has so much to offer that it’s no surprise it sits near the top of many people’s ”must-visit list”. From indulging in the rich heritage and history, to peaceful walks through the beautiful countryside, you won’t be short of things to see and do.
TAKE A JOURNEY BACK THROUGH ENGLAND’S HISTORY
One of the major reasons why people travel to the UK from the UAE is to explore its fascinating history. Various galleries and museums in London, and indeed, other major cities, paint a truly fascinating picture of bygone eras. There are also countless landmarks and historical sites to visit, such as Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Hever Castle, the Natural History Museum….and that’s to name but a few.
EXPLORE WALES AND SCOTLAND
Besides visiting England, Wales and Scotland are also popular amongst visitors from the UAE. From the highlands of Scotland to the majestic peaks of Snowdonia in Wales, there is some stunning natural beauty to be enjoyed. The best places to visit in Scotland and Wales include:
- Brecon Beacons National Park
- Snowdonia National Park
- Black Mountains
- Cardiff Castle
- Edinburgh Castle
- Glasgow Cathedral
- Scottish Highlands
- Loch Ness
- Isle of Skye
SHOP TILL YOU DROP IN LONDON
One of the world’s hottest destinations for high fashion, London is currently and has been home to some world-famous fashion houses and designers, such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood. Don’t miss out on an ultimate shopping spree in the city’s retail paradises like Oxford Street, Regent Street and Knightsbridge.
UK VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR UAE RESIDENTS
The UK visa requirements for UAE residents fall under the Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme. Under the guidelines of EVW, UAE passport holders can travel to the UK without a visa for a visit that’s less than six months. However, individuals travelling from UAE to UK for marriage or civil partnership must apply for the appropriate visa.
To visit the UK from the UAE under the EVW scheme, travellers are required to share travel details 48 hours prior to their departure to the UK. Once submitted, travellers can’t make any changes to the visa form. But if the information or travel details require an alteration, another Electronic Visa Waiver form must be submitted.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR TRAVELLING FROM UAE TO UK
The UK visa for UAE nationals comes under the Electronic Visa Waiver form. To travel from UAE to UK, you’ll need some paperwork that includes:
- Current passport.
- Address in the UK where you intend to stay.
- Travel itinerary with full details about your flight, ship or train with complete arrival and departure time and dates.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN (MINORS)
The online application for a UK visa from UAE is also available for minors. Here’s a list of documents required for young travellers:
- Children aged between 0 to 17-years-old can also travel under EVW with the right travel documents.
- Written consent by parent or legal guardian is required if the children travel unattended.
- Parents or legal guardian’s full contact details.
- Evidence that suitable arrangements are made for the child to stay in the UK.
- Address where the child intends to stay.
- Name and date of birth of the intended carer.
- Relationship of the caretaker to the child.
- Authority from parents or legal guardian allowing the carer to care for the child for the duration of their stay in the UK.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
With the recent travel restrictions the rules for international travel to the UK have changed. Now there’s a single red list of countries that’s updated as required for simplified measures.
All passengers must complete a passenger locator form any time in the 48 hours prior to their intended UK arrival date. Passengers are required to declare all countries they’ve visited or transited through in the 10 days prior to their arrival on the passenger locator form.
UK VISA REQUIREMENTS FROM THE UAE FOR UNVACCINATED PASSENGERS
Passengers travelling from the UAE to the UK are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test that’s taken within 3 days of departure to the UK.
It’s essential to book PCR tests for day 2 and 8 before your intended arrival date into the UK from UAE.
The first test should be taken before or on day 2 and the second test should be taken on or after day 8. Your arrival date into the UK would be day 0.
It’s also essential to complete the passenger locator form online before arrival in the UK, Passengers are also required to provide day 2 and day 8 test package booking reference into the form.
Passengers should have plans to self-quarantine in private accommodation for 10 days after arrival into the UK.
Please note that you may be required to self-quarantine for the duration of your trip if it’s less than 10 days.
UK VISA REQUIREMENTS FROM THE UAE FOR VACCINATED PASSENGERS
These guidelines are for vaccinated passengers travelling to the UK from the UAE. All passengers arriving into the UK are required to take a PCR test within the 2 days preceding their arrival into the UK.
It is also mandatory to take the test after your arrival in the UK or before day 2 as the date you arrive is day 0. Complete the passenger locator form online prior to your arrival in England with day 2 test booking reference included in the form.
Passengers should have evidence of their vaccination status throughout your travel. Those with a digital solution as proof of vaccination are advised to carry a printed copy of the COVID-19 vaccine certificate in the UAE as well.
Passengers using a vaccine certificate as proof of vaccination must ensure it has been issued by a national or state‑level public health authority. The certificate should be in English, French or Spanish. It should include the following information:
- First name and surname(s)
- Date of birth
- Vaccine brand and manufacturer
- Date of vaccination for every dose
- Country or territory of vaccination and/or certificate issuer
Furthermore, passengers are required to self-isolate on arrival until the result of their day 2 PCR. If the result is negative, the visitor no longer has to self-isolate. If the test result is positive, self-isolation for 10 days is mandatory.
These measures apply to all persons (including UK nationals and residents) arriving in the UK from outside the common travel area comprising the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE LIST OF APPROVED VACCINES FOR THE UK?
Passengers with travel plans to the UK from the UAE are required to be vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival into the UK. The list of approved vaccines include:
- Oxford/AstraZeneca
- Pfizer BioNTech
- Moderna
- Janssen (single dose vaccine)
- Sinovac-CoronaVac
- Sinopharm Beijing
- Covaxin
WHICH COUNTRIES CAN YOU VISIT FROM THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES?
UAE residents can visit several impressive travel destinations and Georgia is one of the most popular one. It only takes about 3 to 4 hours to get there. It’s better to be informed about the COVID-19 regulations, visa requirements and more before travelling from the UAE to Georgia.
CAN I CHECK MY UAE VISA STATUS ONLINE?
Yes you can. If you are wondering “how to check visa status in UAE online,” all you have to do is visit the ICA Smart Services portal.
Another option is to travel to Armenia from the UAE. If you’re looking for more destinations, you can also travel to Egypt from the UAE to explore the ancient pharaohs’ tombs, pyramids and much more.
This concludes our guide to travelling from the UAE to the UK – one of the most popular destinations and places to visit.
There are various quarantine requirements for entering and leaving the UAE when returning from another country so make sure you go through them to understand the current travel situation. The UAE approved COVID-19 vaccines are also accepted internationally including the UK.
With guidelines in mind, you can visit visa-free countries for UAE residents that includes Sri Lanka, Maldives and more.
