Italy opens quarantine-free travel for the UAE

Dubai Airports has hailed the introduction of the new antigen test-based travel protocols 

Dubai Airports has backed the decision of the Italian government to waive the 10-day quarantine requirement for all categories of traveller from the UAE, in favour of test-based travel protocols, with effect from 2 June 2021.

Passengers arriving on flights from the UAE to the Italian airports of Rome, Fiumicino; Milan, Malpensa and Venice, Marco Polo, will be able to travel to Italy for any purpose. A negative Covid-19 test result will be required 48 hours before departure from the UAE and, upon arrival in Italy, all passengers over the age of two years will be required to take a rapid antigen test. Provided the test result is negative, travellers are then free to circulate throughout the country. Passengers who test positive will have to undergo a period of isolation at an approved hotel in accordance with the prevailing Covid-19 protocols.

Praising Italy’s decision as a practical move, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said: “This is an important step towards recovery from the global pandemic and will give travellers to Europe the opportunity to plan long-anticipated trips to one of the world’s most popular destinations.

“It demonstrates the confidence that both countries have in their approach to overcoming the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and is one of the most significant bilateral travel corridors, vital to rebooting travel. We hope that other countries will follow Italy’s example in leading the global recovery”

Griffiths added: “The pandemic has caused a lot of social and economic damage and devastated millions of jobs across so many industries over the past 14 months. What the world desperately needs now is a safe return to the mobility and connectivity to aid the momentum of economic recovery, based on prudent risk management rather than risk avoidance.”

The UAE-Italy corridor joins a series of travel corridor agreements signed by the UAE which include Greece, Serbia, Seychelles and Bahrain.