United Arab Emirates - Bio-Security
While the protocols below are as accurate as per the last date recorded, the situation is constantly changing with regards to Covid-19 protocols for yacht arrivals and skippers should always check with their intended port of arrival before getting underway to be 100% certain of what is required.
COVID-19: OPEN
Yachting Protocols:
October 2022
- Vaccinated travellers to the UAE are not required to present a pre-departure negative result of RT-PCR test for COVID-19.
- However, those who are not vaccinated must either present a valid, negative result of an RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours before arrival or a recovery certificate (containing a QR code) from COVID-19 issued within 30 days before departure, if they were infected with the virus.
- Foreign vessels can only enter via main ports of entry (in Dubai – Port Rashid), where health screening / monitoring and testing facilities are available.
- Children below 12 years are exempt.
- Full details can be found at https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/justice-safety-and-the-law/handling-the-covid-19-outbreak/travelling-amid-covid-19/travelling-to-the-uae
Our thanks to OCC Port Officer Lars Lind for updates throughout the Pandemic.
- Mid-March 2020: Sailing Permits stopped being issued.
- April 2020: At the start of Ramadan, restrictions started to be eased and the Coast Guard started issuing sailing permits again in Dubai.
- Vessels arriving from outside UAE were quarantined on an isolated pontoon for 2 weeks in Port Rashid.
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My husband and I are based in UAE and keep our yacht here. We sailed the boat over from Singapore in January 2015 clearing into Abu Dhabi. Customs and immigration clearance was quite straightforward, however, ensure there are no Iranian stamps on the passport and no weapons, drugs etc on the boat.
As a foreign flag vessel, current UAE regulations allow a period of 21 days grace and sailing in territorial waters. Then the vessel needs to have a UAE Navigation Permit, which lasts one year and must be renewed each year. Boats being imported into the UAE must pay import duty on the vessel at 5%. Note – duty at 5% now applies to all sailing equipment bought for boats in the country, whether they are locally registered or foreign registered.
The arrangements for sailing from one emirate to another differ slightly. In Dubai for example, you need an approval to sail to other Emirates, but not from Abu Dhabi. The actual sailing bit is very safe. Beware of sailing too close to Iranian waters and straying into their territory as this will result in being arrested. (Andrea December 2016)