According to the updated green pass rules issued by Abu Dhabi authorities on August 20, people above the age of 16 years are required to prove they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access entry to many places in the capital. These measures are handled by the green status on the UAE's testing and vaccination application "Al Hosn". The measures must be followed by all Abu Dhabi citizens and residents along with visitors from other emirates and tourists from other countries.

Here's how a visitor to Abu Dhabi can obtain a green pass status:

What is a green pass and how do you get it?

The green pass is an electric document that is accessible through UAE's Al Hosn app. It serves as a proof for an individual's vaccination status. It is mandatory for residents and tourists to present their vaccination status through the Al Hosn to enter many public places in Abu Dhabi.

A person will get a green pass if:

· They are fully-vaccinated and have taken a PCR test within the past 30 days

· They have an official vaccine exemption - in this case, the green pass status is valid for seven days after a negative PCR test

· They are under the age of 16 - in this case, the pass is automatically green with no PCR testing requirements.

· Furthermore, people who received their second dose of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago are required to take a booster vaccine dose to maintain the green status.

Earlier, unvaccinated individuals could take a PCR test to maintain green status for three days at a time. However, this rule no longer applies as per the updated protocols.

Where do I need a green pass?

The green pass is required at all shops, restaurants, cafes, gyms, recreational and sports centres, health clubs and hotels across the emirate. Furthermore, resorts, museums, cultural centres, theme parks, universities, institutes, public and private schools, and children’s nurseries are also requiring it. Meanwhile, supermarkets and pharmacies are exempted from the protocol.

How can tourists get the Al Hosn app to prove their green pass status?

Tourists can visit the ICA website or app to achieve their green pass status details. On the website, they will be asked to provide their passport details, vaccine name, dates of the first, second and third dose, and other relevant details for the account. It will further send an SMS confirmation with a link to the Al Hosn app, which must be downloaded before travel. The Al Hosn app allows people to upload their vaccination proof.

According to a statement on the website of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, the Al Hosn app will recognise and automatically synchronise tourists’ international vaccination certificates as uploaded on the ICA app or website. Lastly, they will be asked to enter a Unified ID number to complete the registration.

Visitors must carry a PDF or printout of vaccination proof and other necessary travel documents if they are flying with a pre-arranged visit visa. They can find a temporary Unified ID number on the top right corner of vaccination document.

UAE authorities recommend people to download the app in advance and enter the number to ensure ease of access whenever needed after arrival to Abu Dhabi.

People visiting from a country having visa-on-arrival arrangement with the UAE will only receive a visa stamp on their passport and a five-digit number which must not be considered the Unified ID. They must contact the immigration services – GDRFA in Dubai or ICA for other parts of the UAE - and ask them to generate a Unified number for them.

The Department of culture and tourism has highlighted that Abu Dhabi attractions will also accept tourists’ vaccination certificates from their home country app or official report along with negative PCR result conducted at the airport “in the case of any technical issues with Al Hosn".

Does a university student returning to the UAE require a green pass?

Yes. A green pass is mandatory for everyone visiting public spaces in Abu Dhabi, including tourists. Parents living in the UAE can add their children to the app along with other relatives including their own parents. However, they will have to follow necessary steps in appropriate order to obtain the green pass.

I am a tourist and my children who are under the age of 16 are unvaccinated. Can they get a green pass?

Yes, children under the age of 16 are not required to be vaccinated or perform a PCR test to access the green status. It is mandatory for them to a green pass profile on their parent’s app.

My parents or parent is over the age of 70 but is fully vaccinated. Can they get a green pass?

Yes. People above 70 years of age are allowed to enter malls, so they will require a green pass. Therefore, they must follow the necessary protocols to obtain they green status.

Which vaccines are approved for entry according to protocols?

All vaccines which have been listed by the WHO, including:

· Pfizer/BioNTech: Comirnaty

· Oxford/AstraZeneca, including Covishield (produced by Serum Institute of India)

· Johnson & Johnson: Ad26. COV2. S

· Moderna: Spikevax

· Sinopharm: BBIBP-CorV

· Sinovac: CoronaVac

Covaxin is yet not accepted for travel to the UAE as the vaccine has yet not been approved by WHO.

What is the procedure to obtain a Green Pass for new residents to Abu Dhabi?

New residents have been given a grace period of two months to be fully-vaccinated to prevent their Green Pass from turning grey. During the grace period, they must follow relevant procedure to maintain the green status, including taking a PCR test every seven days.

Which are exempted categories?

Seven groups of people are eligible for vaccine exemption:

1. COVID-19 patients

2. Participants in clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines

3. Pregnant women

4. People vaccinated outside the country

5. People previously infected with COVID-19 - must be confirmed by a medical evaluation

6. People allergic to vaccines or any of their ingredients

7. People suffering from conditions that may be incompatible with the vaccine - must be confirmed by medical evaluation

These categories can obtain their exemption by visiting an authorised medical centre for evaluation, the list of which can be found on the Department of Health's (DoH) website. After following all procedure, the medical centre will submit a report to the DoH which will inform the applicant about the status of their application.

The National