With the emergence of a new covid-19 variant (Omicron), the pandemic has again started to haunt us with a deadly pace. Almost all the countries across the globe are facing the burnt of this new variant and a complete lockdown is knocking at the door. However, in this adverse condition, UAE has emerged as a standout performer while handling the virus. A mass vaccination drive is being undertaken and approximate 90% of its population is fully vaccinated. The Expo 2020 – a mega six-month long event- is running at its full swing in Dubai and a lot of international travellers are visiting the country. Recently on 17th December, 2021, considering the advice of World Health Organisation (WHO), the UAE government has updated its entrance measures for international travellers.
What are the new guidelines for making an entry in theUAE?
The following are some major changes announced by the government-
- All the international travellers will be required to carry a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, which shall not exceed 48 hours from the time of departure.
- Before starting the journey, the interested person needs to register in the Register Arrivals section of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) app. After making the registration, the person need to upload an international vaccination certificate. For confirmation, the person will receive an SMS along with a link to download the Alhosn app.
- The visitors, who are partially or fully vaccinated, and belonging from the green list countries will not be required to go through a quarantine. However, they may subject to an additional COVID-19test after their arrival. Check the countries falling in green list here
- Unvaccinated travellers will be subject to a 10 days quarantine period and will undergo additional testing on day four and day eight of their stay.
- After the arrival, the person will receive a Unified Identification Number (UID). The user is required to register on theAlhosn app, using the UID and phone number used for ICA registration. It is the official app of the country, which enables the user to get all the covid related important information. It is important to note that only those visitors are allowed to visit public places which have a green status on the app.
Exemptions
- UAE national are exempted from the testing requirements while departing from Dubai. The same exemption is extended to a passenger accompanying a related national (first degree relation) or a domestic worker escorting a UAE national.
- The exemption is also provided to the children below the age of 12 years, if they are suffering from moderate to severe disability. Examples of moderate or severe disability includes neurological disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilitiessuch as Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), etc.
In short
The government of UAE is adopting a strict approach to keep a check on the pandemic. In the last few years, health infrastructure has improved to encounter such situations. Keeping in mind the safety of all the international travellers, an emergency response system is set up, which is run by the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA).