Abu Dhabi on Wednesday announced new COVID-19 measures to ensure safe entry to shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets in the emirate. The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Committee has approved the use of a "green pass" to allow the entry of people to various public venues. The green pass will be used to allow entry to shopping malls, supermarkets, hotels and facilities within, gyms, public parks and beaches, private beaches and swimming pools, cinemas, entertainment centres, museums, restaurants, and cafes across Abu Dhabi.

As per the new protocols, the regulation will come into effect from June 15, Tuesday.

This development has come in line with the UAE's decision to adopt a new colour-coded system for the Al Hosn app. The app will show a green status for at least 30 days for people who received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine within 28 days of the first dose after they present a negative PCR test.

Unvaccinated people will see the green status on their Al Hosn app for three days. They are allowed to enter public places in Abu Dhabi for this period after presenting their negative PCR test.

Abu Dhabi authorities noted that new protocols would apply to people age 16 and above. They added that the green pass was based on a four-pronged strategy to curtail the spread of COVID-19 consisting of active contract tracings, vaccination, safe entry and adopting preventive measures.

As per reports, the new Al Hosn colour-coded scheme will cover six categories: fully vaccinated; people awaiting their second dose; those late for their second dose appointment; those exempt from receiving the vaccine; and unvaccinated people. The Al Hosn app will show the vaccination status for an individual along with the validity period.

Category 1: Vaccinated people who received their second dose at least 28 days earlier as well as volunteers in vaccine trials will see a green status for a negative PCR test result for 30 days.

Category 2: For those who received their second dose less than 28 days earlier, a negative PCR test result will show a green status on the Al Hosn app for 14 days.

Category 3: For those who have received their first dose and are awaiting their second dose appointment, the Al Hosn status will appear green for seven days after a negative PCR test result.

Category 4: For people who have received their first dose and are late for their second dose appointment by 48 days or more, a negative PCR test result will reflect a green status for three days.

Category 5: Those with vaccine exemption certificates will see green status on their Al Hosn app for seven days after a negative PCR test result. This category will include people exempted from vaccination due to medical reasons.

Category 6: For unvaccinated people, a negative PCR test result will turn the Al Hosn status green for three days.

It is important to note that the Al Hosn status will turn grey for all categories after the validity of their PCR test ends.