On Sunday, Abu Dhabi introduced a series of updated entry rules to prevent any further spread of the Covid-19 cases in the city. The new rules, enforced by Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee for the Covid-19 Pandemic, would be applicable to all the travels, including those travelling within the UAE.

The committee said that the upgrades regulations, would be effective from Sunday, January 17. The city’s official media page took to Twitter to spread information about Abu Dhabi’s new travel rules as part of its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. It includes:

A negative PCR or DPI test from the previous 48 hours to be presented in order to enter Abu Dhabi. The time duration has been reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours.

When one is staying in Abu Dhabi for four or more consecutive days, a PCR is mandatory on day four of entry. In case someone is staying for eight or more consecutive days, in that case a PCR is required on day eight of entry. This would be in addition to the test required on day four.

The authorities clarified that while calculating the number of days, the day of arrival into Abu Dhabi would be counted as day one. For example: if a person entered Abu Dhabi on Sunday and planned to stay for four or more consecutive days, then a PCR test would be required on Wednesday, and so on.

The authorities urged the community to adhere to the new norms and stated that failure in taking the required test on day four and day eight would lead to penalty.

The committee said that these preventive measures would have to be followed by all UAE residents except those who had already received vaccine shots as part of the national vaccination programmes. Besides the volunteers, who were part of the vaccine clinical trials and got active icons (the letter “E” or a gold star) on the Al Hosn app, would also be exempted from these rules.

WAM