Although the Covid-19 epidemic is still active, traveling to Dubai and Abu Dhabi is still not too complicated. While Abu Dhabi takes a somewhat different strategy than Dubai, which is still generally accessible to tourists, Abu Dhabi has a green list from which residents and visitors may go without having to go through quarantine. Up to four tests are needed for Abu Dhabi, and depending on the traveler’s place of origin and immunization status, certain passengers are still subject to the quarantine requirement. If you are looking to travel, check out our guide to top travel agencies in Abu Dhabi.
So without further ado, we will thoroughly explain all about the new Abu Dhabi travel restrictions.
Abu Dhabi Residents Returning from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
Passengers are allowed to travel to Dubai from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka if they present a negative Covid-19 PCR test complete with QR code to the original report taken within 48 hours of departure, as well as a Covid-19 PCR rapid test taken six hours before departure. Passengers arriving from Burundi, Namibia, Lebanon, Turkey, Mauritania, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Chad, and Zambia must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test with a QR code taken no more than 48 hours before departure.
An immediate COVID-19 PCR test result with a QR code for a checkup completed at the departing airport within six hours of departure.
Travel to Dubai is now restricted from Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Nigeria, Mozambique, the Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, including those who have transited via those nations within the last 14 days.
Travel Guidelines for Traveling Abroad from Abu Dhabi
Residents of the UAE who depart from Abu Dhabi are also permitted to go overseas, however, Etihad passengers must provide proof of a Covid-19 PCR test that was negative within 48 hours of departure. The official test results and contact tracing app for the UAE, ALHOSN, should also be downloaded by visitors. Citizens who visit places on Abu Dhabi’s green list must adhere to different criteria when returning, as do residents who have received vaccinations.
After submitting a negative Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours of departure, vaccinated residents and nationals flying with Etihad are only needed to submit to one PCR test upon arrival in Abu Dhabi and a second test on day six of their return to Abu Dhabi and are not required to quarantine. In addition to the pre-departure test, non-vaccinated travelers must also pass three Covid-19 PCR tests: one upon arrival and two more on days 6 following their return. Residents and citizens must have had a booster injection six months after their second dose of the vaccination in order to obtain green status on the ALHOSN app.
Destinations on the Green List
Currently, the following countries and territories are on the “green list”: Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Australia, Austria, Armenia, Bahrain, Belarus, Bhutan, Belgium, Bolivia, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Cyprus, Chile, Croatia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong (SAR), Iran, Indonesia, Israel, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Latvia, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia, Norway, Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Philippines, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Singapore, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, South Korea, Sweden, Syria, Seychelles, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, USA, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
The UAE’s capital of Abu Dhabi requires immunized citizens returning from places not on the green list to perform a pre-departure test while flying with Etihad, a PCR test upon arrival, a seven-day quarantine, and a second Covid-19 PCR test on day six. Non-immunized inhabitants of Abu Dhabi who go overseas to a place that isn’t on the green list are required to submit to PCR testing upon arrival as well as on days 4 and 8 of their trip.
Note
Covid-19 PCR testing is not required for children under the age of 12 or for adults with severe or moderate impairments. The Covid-19 testing criteria are waived for people who are under the age of 12 and those who have serious impairments.
Abu Dhabi venue capacities
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) declared that restrictions on shopping malls, top nightclubs in Abu Dhabi, theaters, and other entertainment venues has been abolished on February 15, 2023. This enables venues around the UAE to once again function at maximum capacity. According to the NCEMA, each Emirate’s Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Committees will be in charge of making all decisions on the Emirate’s capacity, as well as any adjustments to the processes or changes to capacity depending on the indicators.
Earlier, the Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee released a circular outlining the guidelines for the permitted attendance at events and locations with a 90% capacity. The bulk of Abu Dhabi’s public spaces, eateries, including malls, and cafés; other retail establishments, including those outside of malls; health clubs and resorts; museums and cultural centers; colleges and institutes; theme parks; and movie theaters, all have explicit entry requirements.
The Al Hosn App
Al Hosn is the name of the UAE’s official COVID-19 results app. The Al Hosn app must be used to display the status “Green” in order for people to enter the designated public spaces. This is an important part of our guide to all about new Abu Dhabi travel restrictions.
If a person does not have the Al Hosn app, they can still demonstrate proof of full vaccination by exhibiting the full vaccination status in their home country’s mobile app or by producing a full vaccination certificate from their home country and a negative PCR test result from within the previous 14 days.
Safe, secure, and created to protect both your privacy and health. Make sure you download and register on the smartphone app before your journey. Your travel to Abu Dhabi will be secure and comfortable thanks to it, keeping you protected. With Al Hosn, you get instant access to:
- The results of your recent COVID-19 test
- Your vaccination certificate and PCR test report
- Different attractions in Abu Dhabi
Entering Abu Dhabi from Another Emirate
When entering Abu Dhabi from another emirate, there are distinct requirements. Right now, travelers who have received all necessary vaccinations can enter the UAE with merely their vaccination certificate according to the UAE travel restrictions update. Visitors must still display a green permit from their Alhosn app and pass through EDE scanners in order to enter Abu Dhabi’s public spaces, according to the city’s regulations. So make sure to pay close attention to new rules to enter Abu Dhabi from Dubai, for example.
EDE scanners use cellphones attached to a sensor to measure changes in electromagnetic waves in order to quickly identify probable COVID-19 instances. A quick test will either become green or red:
- You can enter if the scanner displays a green light.
- If the scanner lights red, you will be required to submit a free COVID-19 antigen test at an on-site testing facility.
Note
Keep in mind that everyone, even visitors, may do the PCR test for free. The test results are available in about 20 minutes, and there are on-site testing facilities located all around the city. If your test is positive, you must go back to the emirate you came from and notify the health authorities.
Tourists who are not immunized are still permitted to go to the UAE and Abu Dhabi as long as they can show proof of a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours of their departure. They can also provide a COVID-19 recovery certificate with an issuance date that is at least 30 days old. To keep their green status on the Alhosn app, they must still do a PCR test in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Protocol for Mask-Wearing
Outside, there is no need to wear a face mask. Face masks are necessary for all indoor settings, though, and physical segregation should be followed. The following are exempt:
- Young children (under two years old)
- Individuals with profound disabilities (this group must be able to provide a relevant medical report if required)
- Sufferers of respiratory ailments (This group must be able to submit a medical report stating that they have trouble wearing masks.)
Travel Guidelines for Tourists Traveling to Abu Dhabi
All people qualified for visas on arrival are now able to go to Abu Dhabi, and the restrictions for residents and visitors traveling there are now substantially comparable. All visitors, like residents, must provide evidence of a Covid-19 PCR test that was negative within 48 hours of their departure.
Vaccinated Tourists
In order to avoid quarantine, travelers who have obtained vaccines should register their vaccination certificate on the ica.gov.ae website five days before to arrival. Once finished, a link to download the Alhosn app will be included in an SMS code that must be entered in order to access Abu Dhabi’s public areas. Travelers will get a Unified ID number at the airport immigration desk, online at ICA Smart, or both, which will finish the registration process on the Alhosn app. Following a PCR test at the airport, visitors can activate the Green Pass, which gives them entry to all public locations in the emirate.
Arrivals should anticipate another PCR test on arrival in addition to the Covid test they underwent before leaving. Vaccinated travelers from non-green list countries must submit to Covid PCR testing on days 4 and 8 of their journey, while those traveling from green list countries (82 destinations are now on the green list) must submit to another test on day 6.
Non-Vaccinated Tourists
Based on Abu Dhabi Covid rules, Visitors who are unvaccinated and coming from a place on the “green list” are exempt from quarantine but are required to do four Covid-19 PCR tests: one 48 hours before departure, one upon arrival, one more test on day 6, and one more test on day 9 following arrival.
Each non-immunized passenger must have a pre-departure PCR test within 48 hours before departure, an arrival PCR test, and a mandatory 10-day quarantine period, which includes another PCR test on day 9.
The COVID-19 PCR test is not required for children under the age of 12 or for adults with severe or moderate impairments.
Final Thoughts About New Abu Dhabi Travel Restrictions
This guide provided all about new Abu Dhabi travel restrictions. The UAE government has always prioritized the safety and well-being of both its residents having Abu Dhabi or Dubai work visa and permit and guests. Their programs take into account every safety factor to reduce worries and protect their wellness at every touchpoint, from arrival to departure.
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