Dubai

Emirates operated aircraft at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Dubai Airports General Manager has made a decision by the UK authorities to keep the UAE on their “red” list for international travel as new data from the group shows that passenger traffic through the airport has dropped at 67, The first quarter fell 8%.

“I think the approach is wrong,” Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told Dubai Eye Radio on Thursday, expressing frustration with the rule prohibiting air travel or costly quarantine for thousands of Britons in the Emirates upon arrival forces who want to go home.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that given its status as an international transport hub, the UAE could stay on the list despite falling cases and the second fastest vaccination rate in the world.

“I can’t be too honest with you about my thoughts on these comments,” Griffiths said when asked to respond. “We have made very strong claims to the UK government about the credibility of the numbers here and the way we deal with everything.”

Griffiths called for “a far more proactive relationship” to address confusion over the verdict as public frustration mounts. The UAE remains on the United Kingdom’s Red List, although Abu Dhabi has the United Kingdom on its own “green” list of travel destinations.

“There are countries on the green list (UK) that we believe have not taken the care and the number of measures that we have taken here in Dubai to keep everyone safe,” Griffiths said. “Getting back to life as we once knew it is just not practical.”

The UK Foreign Office and Transport Department spokespersons were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. Last week Shapps said, “We are not restricting the UAE because of the coronavirus levels in the UAE. The problem is the transit problem.”

The UK Foreign Office is currently advising against “all but essential travel throughout the United Arab Emirates, based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.”

A health worker checks a man’s temperature before receiving a dose of coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination center at the Dubai International Financial Center in the Gulf emirate of Dubai on February 3, 2021. The United Arab Emirates has seen an increase in cases after the holiday season.

Photo by KARIM SAHIB | AFP via Getty Images

The United Arab Emirates has delivered more than 9.9 million vaccine doses from its population of around 10 million people, just behind Israel in the global vaccination race. Dubai residents can choose between the China-made Sinopharm vaccine, the UK-developed AstraZeneca, the America-made Pfizer Stuff, or the Russian Sputnik V, while Abu Dhabi residents could only access Sinopharm until Pfizer last week at Emirate of the capital was introduced.

Some in the medical community have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the Sinopharm shot due to conflicting numbers from interim studies and a lack of published data on the Phase 3 trials. It has not yet been approved by the World Health Organization.

Economic and personal costs

The UK list, which will be reviewed in the coming weeks, lists 40 high-risk countries considered too dangerous to travel, including India, which is in a national crisis due to rising infection rates and rising death tolls.

The ban also had real ramifications for Dubai Airports, which call London a “key city” for passenger traffic at Dubai Airport. Before the pandemic, more than 6 million people would fly between the two cities in a single year, Griffiths said.

“It is almost unthinkable not to have a solid 28-a-day flight bridge between here and the UK,” said Griffiths. “The irony, of course, is that you can fly to Scotland, but not England.”

“It is obviously something that everyone here in Dubai is trying very hard to resolve very quickly.”

The ruling also affects many of the roughly 120,000 British nationals living and working in the United Arab Emirates and their family members who have expressed confusion and anger, particularly over the hotel quarantine requirement which is costing a hefty £ 1,750 (US $ 2,428) per person Person.

People who work from home have more opportunities to make a living abroad than ever before.

In addition to the countries originally opened to remote workers last year, new destinations have launched programs to encourage workers to leave their home offices because of tropical shores and year-round sun.

What is necessary Employment outside of the intended destination (a must), proof of sufficient funds to support long-term residence (usually required), health insurance (a good idea, although not mandatory) and of course, negative Covid tests. Add in registration fees and a few other superficial requirements – travelers can secure jobs on the beach until winter 2022.

Here are seven new options.

Montserrat

Tourists cannot go to Montserrat at the moment, but distant workers can.

The Montserrat Remote Workers Stamp, announced on January 29, allows travelers to live and work on the tiny Caribbean island for up to 12 months.

“The response to this initiative has been extremely positive,” Warren Solomon, Montserrat Tourism Director, told CNBC Global Traveler. “The geographical distribution of applicants corresponds to our main international source markets, namely the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Europe.”

Known as the Emerald Isle, Montserrat is home to the Soufrière Hills volcano, which erupted in 1995.

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Remote workers (including freelancers and consultants) must have health insurance and an annual income of at least $ 70,000. Fees are $ 500 for individuals – or $ 750 or more for families.

Applicants know within a week whether they are admitted.

Montserrat, one of 14 UK overseas territories, is home to around 5,000 people, which, according to the island’s tourism website, means “everyone knows everyone”.

Remote workers must test negative for Covid-19 for 14 days in an accommodation of their choice and quarantine. So far, only 20 Covid cases have been confirmed on the island.

“Postage stamps” cannot be renewed, although workers can reapply to stay for another year.

The Bahamas

Individuals who believe they might get tired of staying on an island can apply for the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay program.

With the new 12-month permit, known as BEATS for short, remote workers and students can live and relocate between 16 different islands in the Bahamas, including Andros, Exumas, Eleuthera and Paradise Island.

The Bahamas has more than 700 islands and bays; Remote workers and students can make a living on 16 of them, including Eleuthera (shown here).

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Applications are processed within five days and cost $ 25 per person. Employees must provide proof of employment, while students must provide proof of enrollment and funds to cover living and travel expenses. For an additional fee, students can gain access to the University of the Bahamas for technical support and other educational services.

If approved, the lead applicant must pay $ 1,000 and $ 500 for each accompanying family member. Extensions are possible for a maximum stay of up to three years.

Travelers must have a negative Covid-19 test result (no more than five days prior to their arrival) to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa, which is an additional requirement. From November 1st of this year, visitors will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival.

All nationalities can apply for Dubai’s new remote working program. assuming they make $ 5,000 a month.

Travelers who are unsure whether they want to get involved in the program can enter Dubai on a tourist visa and then apply for the work program during their stay.

At $ 287, the fees are lower than most other programs. Applicants must have valid health insurance in the United Arab Emirates and provide proof of income in the form of pay slips and bank statements.

As with other programs, workers can leave and re-enter as they please. However, stays can be revoked if travelers leave for six consecutive months.

Dubai is known for its modern architecture, including the Burj Khalifa, which at 2,700 feet is almost twice as tall as the Empire State Building.

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Workers can hire nannies and drivers, rent cars, and enroll their children in Dubai’s school system.

To enter Dubai, travelers must arrive with a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, which is carried out no later than 72 hours before departure. Additional testing may be required upon landing, and residents of South Africa or Nigeria are currently not allowed to enter.

The emirate enacted tough new measures earlier this month to curb record-breaking infection rates after a heavily criticized travel season in December. The surge in infections coincides with a robust vaccination campaign that puts the UAE in second place after Israel in terms of percentage of the population vaccinated.

Mauritius

Remote workers looking for a “Covid-safe” place to weather the pandemic can consider Mauritius, according to local tourism officials for the island nation in southeast Africa.

The country of almost 1.3 million people has so far registered 610 Covid cases, only a few of which occurred in 2021.

Digital nomads and retirees willing to adhere to their “strict” health measures can apply for a “premium visa” for one year, according to the country’s official tourism website. To participate, travelers must be quarantined for two weeks and passed four Covid-19 tests.

Concierge services are planned to help digital nomads and retirees find homes, cars, banks, and telephone companies, according to the Mauritius Official Tourism Website.

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There is no fee to apply, although applicants will need long-term housing plans, travel and health insurance, and proof of sufficient funds to stay in Mauritius, which equates to a monthly income of at least $ 1,500. Savings of USD 18,000 are sufficient, said Muhammad Muhsin Mowlabaccus of the Mauritius Economic Development Board.

The new visas, which were introduced in November 2020, are open to residents of more than 100 nations, although travelers who have been to the UK, South Africa, Japan and Brazil in the last 15 days will not be able to enter until February 28.

Croatia

As expected, Croatia started welcoming digital nomads in January.

Applying for a life in this popular Mediterranean coastal country is not as easy as it is in other travel destinations. However, this could soon change, said Jan de Jong, President of the Digital Nomad Association Croatia.

“Currently it is only possible to apply to the local police station in Croatia,” de Jong told CNBC. “We assume that we will be able to accept online applications from March.”

Remote workers who need a separate visa to enter Croatia can apply for the program at the nearest Croatian embassy or consulate – there are 10 in the U.S. – but de Jong said they could email documents at too Send police stations in Croatia.

“Croatia has a chance to be among the top travel destinations for digital nomads,” said Jan de Jong, who said workers are drawn to its islands and coastlines, as well as its inland mountains, forests and national parks.

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The workers must also prove that they have enough money to support their stay. However, this can be evidenced by monthly income or savings, de Jong said.

“The minimum amount you will need per month is 16,142.50 kunas ($ 2,590 USD),” he said. “For those digital nomads who don’t have a stable income every month, it would also be enough to show that they have enough savings for those 12 months, which equates to about $ 31,000.”

Remote workers should also plan not to stay longer than a year. Temporary stays for digital nomads are “granted for up to a year (possibly even less) and cannot be extended,” according to a government website. Employees can reapply six months after an earlier stay has expired.

Madeira

Madeira not only welcomes digital nomads, but also hopes to create a whole community for them.

The archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal 320 miles from Morocco, is home to an initiative called Digital Nomads Madeira. The pilot program provides for free work space in the village of Ponta do Sol from February 1st to June 30th.

“The work area can accommodate 30 to 40 people per day,” said Micaela Vieira, project manager at Startup Madeira, an organization that works with the local government to develop the program. “So far we have received over 4,800 registrations from [more than] 90 countries. “

Vieira says there are currently more than 250 digital nomads working on the island, either in the free work areas or in cafes and restaurants with free WiFi.

Most of them come from countries in the European Union or the Schengen area due to EU travel restrictions.

Still, it is possible for others to join via “a popular visa used by digital nomads, the D7,” said Vieira, referring to the visa that allows non-EU citizens to get Portuguese residency if they can Earn at least € 7,620 per year passive (not derived from salary) income.

Puerto Rico

Although there is no official program, Puerto Rico is open to American remote workers who do not want to worry about application forms or fees.

As an unincorporated region of the United States, US citizens can enter Puerto Rico freely. According to Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s official destination marketing organization, they don’t need a passport and can even bring their pets.

Americans can work and live in Puerto Rico without a remote worker visa.

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American travelers must provide evidence of a negative PCR test result, but Covid testing is not required to return to the United States

The area has several coworking spaces and hotels with packages for remote workers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has rated Puerto Rico as a Level 4 Destination and do not recommend traveling there. To date, the territory of 3 million people has confirmed more than 133,000 Covid cases.