Emirates and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday that will make Dubai one of the first cities in the world that will implement digital verification of Covid-19 medical records related to testing and vaccination of travelers. 

The MoU was signed by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive, and Awadh Al Ketbi, Director-General of Dubai Health Authority.

Sheikh Ahmed said, “Dubai is a leading global air transport hub, as well as one of the world’s most progressive cities in the area of e-government services. It is a natural step to combine our capabilities to implement digital verification of Covid-19 medical records, which will also enable contactless document verification at Dubai Airport. This will tremendously improve the traveler experience, as well as the reliability, efficiency, and compliance with entry requirements imposed by destinations around the world.”

“Dubai will continue to lead the way in implementing an effective and balanced approach to contagion control while facilitating travel and air transport which are crucial to communities and economies,” he added.

Under the MoU, Emirates and the DHA will work together to link the IT systems of all laboratories that are approved by DHA with Emirates’ reservations and check-in systems. This will enable the efficient sharing, storing, and verification of passenger health information related to Covid-19 testing and vaccination securely and legally. The project will begin immediately to benefit travelers in the following months.

WAM