The UAE recently announced the Al Hosn app as the country’s national COVID-19 vaccine registry. The official digital platform has helped the authorities in tracking COVID-19 screenings across the UAE. Available on both Apple and Android mobile devices, the app was updated by the authorities to include the details of vaccine doses administered to people across the country. Noting that more than half of the UAE population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, including over 70 percent of the elderly and residents with chronic diseases, the authorities have ensured regular updates.

Launched on April 25, 2020, amid the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Al Hosn app was developed by the joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Department of Health — Abu Dhabi (DoH), and Dubai Health Authority. As it was launched, Dr. Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson for the UAE’s health sector, had urged all members of the community to download the app, asserting that it would help in tracing COVID-19 cases and combat the spread.

As it becomes a comprehensive registry, here is all you need to know about the Al Hosn app:

Where is Al Hosn app available for download?

Al Hosn is available for download on both iOS App Store and Android Play Store. It is about 36MB in size on both operating systems.

What is the procedure to use the Al Hosn app?

After downloading the app, you are required to authenticate your identity using your Emirates ID and phone number. Then, you will have to enter the one-time password (OTP) sent to your mobile phone. Then, you are required to turn on the Bluetooth and push notifications following which the app will continue to run in the background.

In what languages is the app available?

The app is currently available in Arabic, English, and Hindi.

What is the purpose of the app? 

Al Hosn app helps in detecting if you have been in close proximity with someone who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 or with people who had been in close contact with others infected with the disease. In order to determine this, the app uses short-distance Bluetooth signals using the app on your phone and apps on mobile devices of other users. Both mobile phones exchange anonymized IDs, which are later stored in encrypted form on your device. Then health authorities use the stored anonymized IDs to identify and contact people at risk of infection in order to ensure that they take tests if needed.

Significantly, the app is encrypted for security purposes such that the data remains only on the user’s mobile phone. Every user who downloads the app gets a unique QR code that is periodically updated. This QR code contains all information regarding the health of the user. The app also provides various features to users to allow them to check their COVID-19 testing results and view other details about their vaccination status.

Why do I need the Al Hosn app?

As the national COVID-19 vaccine registry in the UAE, Al Hosn records the results of all COVID-19 screenings performed across the country. While you will receive COVID-19 test results through SMS, federal entities are accepting the Al Hosn record as a definitive proof for official purposes. Some of the instances when you might need to show your COVID-19 test record on Al Hosn include:

·    Entry into Abu Dhabi: You will be allowed to enter Abu Dhabi only after showing a COVID-19 negative test result (taken within the specified validity period for the particular test type) on your Al Hosn app at the emirate’s borders.

·    Access to various events: Amid the ongoing efforts to combat the pandemic, more and more events are requiring their attendees to present their COVID-19 negative test result on Al Hosn.

·    Access to schools: In Abu Dhabi, parents are required to present proof of their COVID-19 negative status on Al Hosn in order to enter school premises.

·    Proof of vaccination: Authorities have expanded the role of the Al Hosn app to include the proof of vaccination. You can show your app status to officially prove that you have received a COVID-19 vaccine dose or are fully vaccinated, i.e., received both doses and completed 28 days after the second dose.

Can I have more than one person’s details on my Al Hosn app?

Al Hosn allows users to add the details of more than one person. In this regard, the app will show a list of all the people and their Emirates IDs added by the user. You will have to click on the specific person’s name to access their individual testing and vaccination record.

What are the latest changes to Al Hosn?

Earlier, Al Hosn showed vaccination status with a gold star (for those who participated in COVID-19 vaccine trials in the UAE). It also showed the letter ‘E’ for a person who had received both doses of the vaccine and completed 28 days after the second dose.

However, after the app was conferred the status of the national COVID-19 vaccination registry, it includes the complete details of your vaccination status such as the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses you have received, on what dates they were taken, and which vaccine was administered. A user can also generate and share an official vaccination report.

Where does the app show all this information?

A number of options are displayed on every individual's personal screen after the name is clicked on the home screen. These options include:

1. Personal details: It contains your personal details such as your picture, full name (as per your Emirates ID), and your Emirates ID number.

2. Vaccination status: If you are fully vaccinated, the screen shows another line of text in yellow saying this, along with the date of the second vaccine dose. It also includes a gold star or the letter E depending on the status of the COVID-19 vaccination.

3. QR code: The QR code is regularly updated (typically every ten minutes) along with your COVID-19 status - either positive or negative. At the same time, the QR code also shows if your COVID-19 test result has expired (for Negative tests), which indicates that a PCR test has been taken over seven days ago.

Here is the health-related meaning of the colour of the QR code on the Al Hosn app:

· Red: COVID-19 positive

· Bright green: COVID-19 negative (with PCR test taken within the last seven days)

· Grey: COVID-19 negative, (with PCR test taken more than seven days ago)

4. Vaccination status: If there is a tag ‘For medical use only, the app includes all details about your vaccine doses such as the date they were taken and which vaccine was given.

5. Previous COVID-19 test results: These are listed with the type of test taken (DPI or PCR), the date it was taken, and the result.

What can you do with the information presented on Al Hosn?

You can either download the COVID-19 test and vaccination results from the app or share them via email or messaging the client. In addition, the app helps you to download official certificates (in PDF form) for both COVID-19 tests and vaccinations. These certificates are available in both English and Arabic languages with official letterheads. The vaccination card also includes the details related to the vaccination centres where each of the doses was administered.