The number of countries welcoming travelers from the United Arab Emirates without the need for quarantine has risen to 19, following Spain's announcement to open its borders to fully vaccinated international visitors starting tomorrow (Monday, June 7). Emirates Airline has stated that UAE travelers and residents planning their summer holidays can choose from over 30 cities in 19 countries through the Emirates network. Starting in July, the airline will operate more than 280 weekly flights from Dubai to cities in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Africa, and popular tourist islands.
Spain is the latest European country to welcome back tourists. As of June 7, tourists will be able to enter Spain if they have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to their travel date, or they can present a negative COVID-19 test result conducted within 48 hours before arrival. Travelers will need to show vaccination certificates upon arrival, having received vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency or any vaccines listed in the WHO's emergency use listing, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca.
Unvaccinated children under six years old are allowed to enter with their vaccinated parents, while children over six will need to present a negative PCR test result. International travelers must also complete the online FCS health monitoring form before their arrival. Emirates currently operates 5 weekly flights to Madrid and 4 to Barcelona, with plans to add more as travel demand increases.
With the advancement of vaccination programs worldwide and the application of safe travel protocols, more countries are taking steps to open their borders for travel and tourism to and from the UAE. Emirates will continue to enhance its operations with the return of demand and support the swift revival of tourism through its network, opening more safe corridors that allow travelers to fly without quarantine.
In Europe, Emirates customers can enjoy travel without quarantine to Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Spain, and France (starting June 9). In the Middle East, customers can reconnect with family and friends or enjoy holidays in Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Egypt. For beach lovers, Emirates offers comfortable flights to the Maldives and Seychelles, and it recently announced the resumption of flights to Phuket starting July 2.
In Africa, travelers can enjoy city tours and luxurious resorts in Morocco, Kenya, and Tanzania. The United States, thanks to the rapid advancement of its vaccination program, is becoming increasingly popular among tourists. Emirates currently operates flights to 11 destinations in the U.S. and will add Miami as a new destination on July 21. The airline is also deploying A380 aircraft to several global cities this summer, including New York and Los Angeles. Mexico City continues to welcome tourists and business travelers, with Emirates resuming its service to the city from July 2, 2021.
Emirates is also strengthening its partnership with flydubai, having expanded the joint network and flight program to 48 cities in 33 countries without the need for quarantine this summer, offering travelers more options than any other carrier in the region. Emirates is developing the capabilities of the "IATA Travel Pass" on its flights to Barcelona, Moscow, Istanbul, New York Kennedy, Madrid, and London Heathrow, with plans to broaden this across all its flights by July, along with paperless verification of COVID-19-related medical records through its partnership with Dubai Health Authority.
Emirates customers can check out the "Emirates Holidays" programs, which adhere to the highest health and safety standards. Three-night packages in four-star hotels start at 2,829 AED per person in Spain and from 4,279 AED in the Indian Ocean islands. Five-night packages in four-star hotels start at 5,399 AED per person in Miami and from 2,299 AED in Phuket.
Emirates continues its efforts to alleviate travel pressures and has led the industry in protecting the health of its customers to ensure they feel safe and confident in their travel decisions, implementing the latest health and safety measures at every step of the journey. The airline has recently introduced contactless technology to facilitate customer passage through Dubai International Airport.
Emirates remains a leader in the industry through innovative products and services that meet the needs of travelers in these unusual and changing circumstances. Recently, the airline has enhanced its customer care initiatives with more generous and flexible booking policies, extended insurance coverage against various risks, and assisted its customers in retaining their miles and tier status in the "Emirates Skywards" program.
