The Abu Dhabi Health Service Company (SEHA) announced on Sunday that all applicants applying for a new residency visa or to renew an existing one in Abu Dhabi will need a negative Covid-19 PCR test report before their medical test. The rule will come into effect starting June 7.

“All applicants...should have a negative Covid-19 nose swab result on Al Hosn app done within 72 hours,” SEHA’s Ambulatory Healthcare Services said on its Instagram account. 

The Abu Dhabi authorities had made the Covid-19 negative result mandatory for accessing all public offices, events and public areas for keeping the emirate safe for all residents. Furthermore, all unvaccinated federal employees must take Covid-19 test once every week.

According to the latest rules, a negative PCR test result received within 48 hours prior to travel to Abu Dhabi is required. A negative DPI (Diffractive Phase Interferometry) test result received 24 hours prior to travel also will be accepted, but it cannot be used consecutively to gain entry two times. 

Workers in sectors that require them to interact with people on a daily basis, like hotels, restaurants, recreational areas, health workers, tour guides, taxi drivers and others, have to undergo periodical PCR tests as part of protocols. Parents or visitors in order to gain access to school premises must present a Covid-19 negative result. Teachers and administrative staff must also undergo periodical Covid-19 tests, as per guidelines issued by Abu Dhabi education regulators.