Covid UK: Dubai goes on the quarantine list

Travellers returning to the UK from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will have to quarantine from 4am tomorrow following a 52 per cent surge in the number of coronavirus cases, Grant Shapps today announced.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al-Quwain, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah have been removed from the UK’s list of Travel Corridors.

People coming to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from the UAE are  now required to self-isolate for 10 days following a significant increase in confirmed Covid-19 cases in the past week, the Transport Secretary said.  

Passengers arriving from all international destinations, including the UAE, will be required to present a negative Covid-19 test result taken up to three days before departing for England or Scotland to help protect against new strains of coronavirus.

They will also need to present this proof to carriers, along with their passenger locator form. The UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrival into England to ensure that passengers are fully compliant.

At the same time, the Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to UAE.

It follows speculation that England would add the UAE to the travel quarantine list after Scotland unilaterally added Dubai last night. 

Aerial view of the luxury Burj Al Arab (left) and Jumayra Beach (right) hotels in Dubai

Travellers returning to the UK from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will have to quarantine from tomorrow. Pictured: the 75-storey Gevora Hotel in the Gulf metropolis of Dubai

Grant Shapps tweeted: ‘We need to immediately remove the UAE from the #TRAVELCORRIDOR list. From 0400 Tuesday 12 Jan anyone arriving from the UAE will need to SELF-ISOLATE’

Dubai has become a popular lockdown holiday destination for the social media elite with countless influencers and reality stars jetting off to the city for some winter sun.

In November, the UAE was added to the Government’s travel corridor list meaning Britons could return to England and not need to quarantine. 

But on Sunday, Scotland ordered all arrivals from Dubai to self-isolate for 10 days from 4am on Monday after a surge in Covid cases in Dubai arrivals. 

Mr Shapps tweeted: ‘The LATEST data indicates we need to immediately remove the #UAE from the #TRAVELCORRIDOR list.

‘From 0400 Tuesday 12 Jan anyone arriving from the UAE will need to SELF-ISOLATE.’

People ride a boat at the Ras El-Khor wildlife sanctuary near the old quarter of Dubai

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it will ‘take decisive action if necessary to contain the virus, including if the public health risk of people returning from a particular country without self-isolating becomes too high’. 

Lockdown measures remain in place, meaning everyone must stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons, including for work. 

This means people can no longer travel to take holidays or travel internationally unless for work or other legally permitted reasons. Those in breach of the rules face penalties starting at £200, rising to a maximum of £6,400. 

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.