Dubai: Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has updated the travel procedure for tourists arriving in Abu Dhabi from outside the UAE, with vaccinated tourists not required to undergo a quarantine period from today – September 5, 2021.
However, there are testing and re-testing requirements that still need to be fulfilled to ensure public health and safety. Some unvaccinated passengers will still need to undergo quarantine on arrival. Here are all the details:
Step 1: Register verified vaccination certificate through ICA
Before travelling, vaccinated tourists must verify their vaccination certificate through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) website or app. According to Etihad, passengers must register on the ICA platform five days before their flight to Abu Dhabi.
You can either download the ‘ICA UAE’ app, which is available on Apple and Android devices or complete the procedure through the website – www.ica.gov.ae.
1. Visit https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/registerArrivals
2. You will be given two options in a pop-up window, asking you to select whether you are inside or outside the UAE. Select the option where you are outside the UAE
3. Fill out the form, where you will need to provide your personal details like your date of birth, passport number, port of departure and arrival, and the dates on which you received the vaccine doses. You will also be asked to upload your passport copy, photograph, vaccine certificate and PCR test result (which is optional).
4. Click ‘Send’.
According to the ICA website, the medical committee shall have the right to reject any application, or to impose additional requirements as it deems appropriate after review. The average time of completing and reviewing the application by the medical committee is a maximum of 48 hours.
Step 2: Take a PCR test within 48 hours of departure
Before boarding your flight, you must show a negative PCR [Polymerase Chain Reaction] test result received within 48 hours of departure.
Step 3: Vaccinated passengers must take re-tests on arrival
Vaccinated citizens, residents and visitors arriving from Green List destinations must take another PCR test on Day 6, if staying in the Emirate.
From other destinations, they must take PCR tests on Day 4 and Day 8, if staying in the Emirate.
Vaccinated tourists will be allowed in public places limited to those vaccinated in Abu Dhabi. They can show their status by registering on Alhosn app or by using the official app of their resident country to show vaccination and their phone to show test results.
The protocol applies to fully vaccinated tourists aged 16 years and above, who have received a vaccine approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
What if I am not fully vaccinated?
For passengers coming in to the Emirate who have not been fully vaccinated, the protocol to follow depends on whether they have arrived from a Green List country or not.
Unvaccinated citizens, residents and visitors, including those exempt from vaccination, arriving into Abu Dhabi from Green List destinations must take a PCR tests on Day 6 and Day 9, without quarantine.
Unvaccinated citizens, residents and visitors arriving from other destinations must quarantine for 10 days and take another PCR test on Day 9.
