PCR Test - Travelling to Dubai from HK

[Vix85]

Hi everyone,

Apologies in advance for the silly question, but I haven't done any COVID testing before and never travelled since Jan 2020. Hence this all new for me (but I did got vaccinated ASAP!)

On 24 Oct 2021 I will be travelling from Hong Kong to Dubai taking off at 2130
My understanding is that passengers travelling from Hong Kong must present a printed negative result of a COVID‑19 RT PCR test done no more than 72 hours before departure.
https://u.ae/en/information-and-serv...ing-to-the-uae

Does anyone know if the test booked via https://www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/ is indeed a COVID‑19 RT PCR test ?

[Blowfish]

Yes. Prenetics at the airport can do it as well with a 2hr turn around.

[Vix85]

Great thanks! I think I'll go to the community center next home and do it there the day before

[Vix85]

Sorry follow-up question on this: all the testing centers booked via https://www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/ provide the same tests and results?

I'm asking as Dubai requires:
- The certificate must be a Reverse Transcription‑Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT‑PCR) test.
- Travellers must bring an official printed or digital certificate in English or Arabic to check in – SMS certificates are not accepted.
- COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test certificates must be issued by an authorised facility in the passenger's departure country.

I believe Prenetics is good on all 3 requirements in the centers they operate (Quarry Bay Community Complex & Leighton Hill Community Hall), however I want to take my test at Shek Tong Tsui Sports Center: will everything be the same?

[Blowfish]

In my experience, the normal ctcs are fine. You can print the certificate etc. Dubai is very very relaxed, they hardly check.

[shri]

@Vix85 - Contact the provider and double check.

Health Hope International Medical Laboratory Limited
Hotline: 5741 5722
Email: [email protected]

https://www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info

[bsh]

If you go to a govt community testing centre, I would suggest you make your booking 48 hours ahead of the flight. Costs $240.

My experience was that after 24 hours , I received an SMS with a link to the results but they didn’t open. I ended up having to return to the centre the next day to pick up the paper version and someone did try to send the soft copy version to my email.

Just prepare for 2 journeys to the testing centre.

[qhank]

I just did the test at a community centre (lab work done by Prenetics) this morning at 8:30am and got the pdf via text at 8:30pm. I will also return in person tomorrow morning to collect the paper copy just in case.

[Rajyo]

Thank you for explaining. So you would say they are reliable and we can get the report on the same day as they say? We can trust them? I travel early morning the next day. No time to make a second visit. Thanks