Blumie

Are you looking to book a test in Dubai? Emirates Specialty Hospital, which is 10 minutes from the airport, operates a 24/7 testing center. No appointment needed. Results within 24 hours.

moral_low_ground

Many of the major hospitals have 24 hour testing, even on Friday/Saturday. I am currently in RAK and can get tested either at the hospital (24/7) or in the Mall (weekdays only). There are plenty of options - no issue being a non-resident apart from having to pay (which at least is relatively cheap)

Total non-sequitur - I have a flight back to the UK in a couple of weeks and EK and BA business class is £1500 - £1600 GBP return

AAtticus

Yes correct, I'm heading to Dubai this weekend but I also need a negative test for my onward journey. Thanks for the advice.

It's absolutely profiteering here in the UK..GBP120 for a swab and certificate. Good to know it's 24/7 so I don't have to worry about the weekend closures. Thanks for confirming.

suley

It definatly is profiteering, recently at a parliment hearing, the NHS pays £15-45 for a test, now they have scale, assume its £45-65 is private cost, centres charging £120+ still making more profit

Schwann

I didn't look too closely as it wasn't required, but when I was at the Hilton in RAK I saw a poster saying the RAK tourism board were offering free COVID tests for tourists before they go home. Might be worth checking out..

GGL Flyer

Arrived in Dubai this morning and was forced to take another PCR test. They are testing all people arriving from China, UK, etc. Top tip: Book Marhaba and jump the queue.

moral_low_ground

Yes, thanks, I did see that but I think the offer ended Dec 31st. Also, you had to give your Hotel info and I am in an AirBnB so not sure if that would have worked.

BTW, I arrived in Dubai mid-Dec and was on my way to Saudi before they closed the border (it's open now). According to most sites, if you enter Dubai as a UK tourist you get the normal 30 day tourist visa on arrival and you can extend by 30 days (twice). I managed to get a tourist extension for 90 days (for the same cost as two 30's and obviously you only have to do it once). The firm I used also took care of the sponsoring which other companies would not do.

modularmayhem

could you provide details of this and the company? i may need to do the same as im also currently here in DXB

moral_low_ground

I PM'd you the details

8420PR

All tourist visa's (including UK 30 day tourist visa on arrival) were extended automatically once, with an expiry date of 27th January.

You can check the expiry date of your visa on this link: https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/ech...#/fileValidity

I called to see what to do to extend my visa again, and was told better to wait until the end of the week. I'm in Dubai, so the easiest way for me would be to go to the airport and do it there. However I think we will head home.

ANstar

I'm surprised how many people are still taking leisure travel when there is a lockdown in the UK and a global pandemic in full swing.

moral_low_ground

How do you work out that this person is travelling for leisure ??

I am not and work overseas. I haven't been back in the UK for 5 months and I have to return to sort out various things that require me to be there in person. I'd rather not travel and it is pretty challenging trying to organise anything due to the ever changing restrictions - life cannot stop completely

ANstar

it’s wasnt directed at any one individual - just a general comment about leisure travel.

southlondonphil

If you're staying near the airport, Al Garhoud Private Hopsital is about 2 minutes walk from the Millennium Airport Hotel (a bit longer from the Al Bustan and the Le Meridien Conference Centre as you have to get across a main road) and is on this list of accredited labs cribbed from Emirates website. There's also a Prime Medical Hospital next door to Le Meridien which may be offering tests - most of the Prime Medical locations seem to be doing so.

Outside of the 24/7 hospital locations most of the clinics are open long hours (e.g. 8am-9pm) and often 7 days a week so there are plenty of options. When I had to get tested recently I went to a place near the Deira Clock Tower on a non-appointment basis and it took longer to fill out the forms and pay (about £26) than the time I spent waiting for the actual test.

andys84

I’d be really grateful for any advice here…

I have flights booked for my family of 4, departing 18th Feb and returning 5 days later. These were booked in the BA sale in November

We have given up hope of restrictions easing sufficiently for us to go on holiday, but no sign of BA cancelling the flights (we are booked on the 105 outbound and the 104 inbound – and it seems BA are cancelling the 107 and 106)

Instead of claiming the FTV, I’m considering moving our flights to the 107/106 combo in mid-March, when those flights are currently scheduled to restart again.

Do you guys think there is a strong chance BA will extend the strategy of cancelling those flights, and therefore putting me in the position of being able to claim a full refund?

Or, worst case, if I move them to March and BA don’t cancel, am I correct in assuming I’d be in exactly the same position as I am now – in that I’d be able to claim a FTV anyway?

Based on your advice, I may call up BA ASAP, to get in on those March 107/106 flights before BA cancel them.

Final thought – would you guys agree that BA are unlikely now to cancel our February 105/104 flights, as passenger loads continue to be high despite restrictions?



Thanks