Greece and UAE Agree to Mutual Quarantine-free Travel

Dubai International Airport. Photo source: @DXB Dubai International

Vaccinated travelers to Greece from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and vice versa will not be required to quarantine on return after the two countries signed a “safe travel corridor” agreement on Thursday to facilitate movement.

The decision goes into effect immediately in Greece and on May 18 in the UAE. The two sides also agreed to the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates issued in either country.

“The quarantine-free travel corridor will ease the travel of vaccinated individuals holding vaccination certificates without the need to apply quarantine requirements upon arrival,” a joint statement reads.

The two countries said the agreement is meant to “facilitate the movement of individuals, promote tourism between the two countries, and achieve the desired goals of vaccination campaigns”.

“To advance towards recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, a safe travel corridor has been established for fully vaccinated individuals, in addition to mutual recognition of vaccination certificates issued by health authorities in the two countries,” the statement said.

Under the rules, travelers from either country will be required to present proof of completed (both doses where this applies) Covid-19 vaccination. 

“Travelers can also present PCR laboratory test results,” the statement reads.

Greece opened to international travelers on Friday. Visitors will be required to fill out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before travel and present either a vaccination certificate (indicating full vaccination 14 days prior to travel), a negative PCR test conducted in the last 72 hours, or a Covid-19 recovery certificate.