A guide to Spain’s Costa del Sol as Etihad launches flights to Malaga

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors from the UAE are currently welcome in Spain.

Running along Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast in the autonomous region of Andalusia, the Costa del Sol consists of 103 towns and villages, and has an ever-changing coastline that includes beaches, cliffs, estuaries, bays and dunes. Formerly home to a series of tiny fishing villages, the area has evolved into a world-renowned tourist destination over the past 60 years.

Who can visit the Costa del Sol?

Spain has reopened its borders to UAE travellers. All vaccinated visitors can enter the country, which recognises the Sinopharm, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. Travellers must present a vaccination certificate proving that their final dose was administered at least 14 days prior to travel.

Unvaccinated travellers from the UAE are also permitted to enter Spain, provided they present a negative PCR test or proof of recovery from the disease. All visitors are required to fill in a Health Control Form and obtain a QR code that must be presented on arrival in Spain.

Which airlines fly to the Costa del Sol?

Etihad is launching flights to Malaga on Friday, making the Costa del Sol immediately accessible to UAE travellers. The twice-weekly flights will run on Wednesdays and Fridays until Wednesday, September 15. The outbound service is direct, with a flight time from Abu Dhabi to Malaga of just under eight hours. The return flight includes a one hour 30-minute stopover in Madrid.

The Costa del Sol is also easily reachable from Madrid and Barcelona, and Emirates flies to both Spanish cities.

What can I see and do in the Costa del Sol?

From glitzy Marbella to party-tastic Torremolinos, history-infused Malaga and a host of charming but lesser-known towns and villages, there is something for everyone in the Costa del Sol. There are endless stretches of beach, plenty of parks, excellent shopping opportunities and Spain’s signature hearty cuisine and hospital.

Jose Puebla, a member of the Costa del Sol Tourism Forum, says: “Our gastronomy in Spain is very similar to Arab food. That’s important, especially when you are travelling with children. There are also many other links and similarities between our cultures, from the way we talk to our friendliness.”

The Costa del Sol is also safe, tolerant and very used to welcoming travellers from the Middle East.
Marbella has retained its glitzy appeal. It has long attracted Saudi, UAE and Kuwaiti royalty, and its famous residents include Antonio Banderas, Dolph Lundgren and Lord Alan Sugar of The Apprentice. The area offers 11 golf courses, three marinas and a high concentration of luxury hotels and world-class restaurants.

The town is also home to the King Abdul Aziz Mosque, which was financed by Saudi Arabia in 1981.