With UAE being a hub for diverse people from across the globe, its not uncommon to see many to-be-parents travelling back to their home countries or countries of citizenship to deliver their newborn baby.
Apart from this scenario, pregnant women residing in the UAE may often travel outside the country for personal reasons, be it a holiday or a family occasion. Local airlines have set their own guidelines and rules to ensure safety of expecting mothers during this crucial time.
Confused if you can travel at 36th week or the 37th week of your pregnancy? Here’s a breakdown of requirements by different airlines in the UAE.
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Emirates
Passengers who may be less than 29 weeks pregnant can book their flights as per usual with the airline, provided that they have not experienced any medical complications during the time of their pregnancy.
For those who may be travelling during their 29th week of pregnancy or after that need to bring a medical certificate or letter signed by a doctor or midwife to travel. This document is crucial as pregnant passengers may not be allowed to fly without it.
What should the letter contain?
- Approximate date of birth
- Confirmation of passenger’s good health
- Whether it is a single or multiple pregnancy
- Doctor’s agreement on no complications expected while giving birth
- Doctor’s agreement on no reason to be prevented from flying
- The latest date the doctor declared the passenger as ‘fit for travel’
In cases of multiple pregnancies, passengers are not allowed to travel after the 32nd week. In single pregnancies, it is not permitted for them to travel after the 36th week.
In case the passenger needs to travel for any emergency reason, she is required to fill out a MEDIF form that is available on the airline’s website.
Etihad Airways
Similar to Emirates, pregnant passenger can travel up to 28 weeks of pregnancy without any certificate or letter. In the case of any medical complications, the passenger should consult their doctor beforehand and accordingly decide to travel. If the doctor advises that there could be an issue, then the passenger is required to fill out the MEDIF form available on the website.
For those having single pregnancies, travel is not allowed from the 37th week onwards. During 29 weeks to 36 weeks, pregnant travellers must provide a medical certificate.
For those with multiple pregnancies, travel is not permitted from the 33rd week. During the 29th week and 32nd week, passengers need to provide a medical certificate.
This certificate should be valid for three weeks from the date of issue and must include the following to be accepted:
- Provide information on whether the pregnancy is single or multiple
- Should be written clearly in English or Arabic
- ‘Fit to travel’ confirmation by medical professional
- Expected date of delivery
- Confirmed weeks of pregnancy
- Must be stamped by the clinic or hospital or be issued on a letter headed paper
Flydubai
Similar to other airlines, Flydubai permits pregnant passengers to travel up to the end of the 28th week of pregnancy. Post this time, passengers must provide a medical certificate, which should be valid for three weeks from the date of issue.
Those having single pregnancies need to show a medical certificate between week 29-36. From the start of week 37, they are not allowed to travel anymore.
Women having multiple pregnancies are required to show medical certificates between week 29 and 32. From 33 weeks onwards, they are not allowed to travel.
The medical certificate must include:
- Expected date of birth
- Number of weeks of pregnancy
- ‘Fit to travel’ confirmation by the medical professional
- Whether it is a single or multiple pregnancy
- Normalcy of pregnancy
- It must be signed and stamped by a medical professional
Air Arabia
All pregnant women travelling by Air Arabia up to their 35th week need to show a medical certificate before travelling.
This certificate should include:
- The weeks of the pregnancy
- Confirming if the passenger is fit to fly
- Certificate must be valid for 14 days from the date of issuance
- It must be signed by a doctor
Single pregnancy women cannot travel after they have reached the 36th week of pregnancy and multiple pregnancy passengers cannot travel after completing 32 weeks of pregnancy.