Britain adds UAE to air corridor in time for holiday travel

Britain added the UAE to its air travel corridor list on Thursday, as the government opened up more destinations for travellers despite the UK being in the middle of its second Covid-19 lockdown.

People flying to the UK from the UAE will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days, but they must have spent at least two weeks in the country to qualify for the quarantine exemption.

Opening up the air corridor will allow Britons to enjoy some winter sun in the popular holiday destination, while also allowing UAE residents with UK links the chance to visit family and friends for Christmas or enjoy a shopping spree.

Analysts said opening the air corridor would offer a boost to the countries’ aviation and tourism industries.

The UAE is a popular tourism and business destination for the UK, with more than 5,000 British businesses and 120,000 British citizens living in the Emirates, according to the British Business Group in Dubai.

Separately, 1.5 million Britons visit the country from the UK every year. The UAE is the UK’s fifth largest export market outside Europe, with reciprocal trade in goods and services between the two countries reaching £18.2 billion ($23.86bn) last year, the BBG said.

Britons flying into Dubai will still need to follow the country’s Covid-19 guidelines on arrival at Dubai International Airport.

These include passing through thermal scanners and then taking a Covid-19 test in the airport before self-isolating until the results come in, according to Emirates airline.

Travellers arriving in the UK must complete a passenger locator form and wear a face mask in the airport and on public transport.

Anyone who has visited a destination not on the travel corridor list 14 days before they arrive in the UK must still self-isolate.

This means passengers transiting through another country before or after the UAE will still need to go into quarantine when they arrive in the UK.

Anyone arriving before December 2 must follow restrictions that include staying at home and not meeting people who do not live with you.