Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) has issued a detailed guide for both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors to travel to the UAE Capital. In the guide, the authority stressed that booster (third) dose is not a mandatory requirement for tourists while entering the Emirate.

People can access the full list of rules on the DCT – Abu Dhabi website with the latest updates made on January 23, 2022.

Vaccinated tourists travelling to Abu Dhabi airport

1. It is important for passengers to be vaccinated with UAE-approved vaccines. Abu Dhabi is accepting vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention Society (MOHAP).

2. Travellers are required to download the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship (ICA UAE Smart) app or visit the ica.gov.ae website to complete the 'Register Arrivals Form' 48 hours before their travel to the Capital.

All travellers will be asked to validate their vaccination (or exemption) at least 48 hours before travel through these platforms. They are required to submit some important personal information including passport details, travel itinerary, a copy of vaccine certificate and address when they will be staying in Abu Dhabi. As per the updated rules, this information will be approved first before the travellers travel to the Capital. The Medical Committee takes an average time of 48 hours to process the applications.

3. Travellers are mandated to take a PCR test within 48 hours of their departure and only fly when they receive a negative test result.

4. At the Abu Dhabi International Airport, they will be asked to take another free PCR test (only children under 12 years and individuals with official exemptions are exempt) which will deliver results within 90 minutes. Travellers are allowed to depart the airport and wait in their accommodation for the results.

5. For travellers coming from a Green List country, another PCR test on day 6 will be conducted. For passengers from non-Green List countries, further PCR tests will be conducted on days 4 and 8.

6. Passengers will be required to present full vaccination certificates to enter public attractions in Abu Dhabi. In addition, a negative PCR test result obtained within the last 14 days is mandatory.

Unvaccinated tourists traveling to Abu Dhabi airport

1. Travellers are required to undergo a PCR test within 48 hours of their departure and board the flight only when they receive a negative test result.

2. Unvaccinated passengers are required to download the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship (ICA UAE Smart) app or visit the ica.gov.ae website to complete the 'Register Arrivals Form' 48 hours before the travel date. They will be required to submit necessary personal details such as passport details, travel itinerary and address when in Abu Dhabi. Medical Committee will take up to 48 hours to approve these details to allow passengers to embark on their journey.

3. At the Abu Dhabi International Airport, travellers will take another free PCR test (only children under 12 years and individuals with official exemptions are exempt) which will generate results within 90 minutes.

4. If unvaccinated passengers are travelling from a Green List country, they will be required to take another PCR test on days 6 and 9. They are not mandated to undergo quarantine. Unvaccinated travellers coming from a non-Green List country will be asked to undergo quarantine measures.

If their PCR test result comes negative, they will be needed to undergo quarantine for 10 days in their accommodation. In case, the PCR test is positive, they will be fitted with a wristband during their 10-day quarantine period.

6. Travellers with both positive and negative results will be required to undergo a second PCR test at a SEHA prime testing facility on day 9. In can, they test previously showed positive and now negative, they will be allowed to remove their wristband.

7. Unvaccinated tourists are not permitted to access public attractions in Abu Dhabi, except hotel accommodations. However, they will be allowed to enter restaurants and facilities within hotels.

Travelling via Dubai or other Emirates

1. The DCT has assigned a far-right lane (Lane 1) as a dedicated tourist lane at the Dubai-Abu Dhabi road entry point. At the lane, the authority has designated a guest service office and officials to resolve any issues of passengers.

2. Vaccinated tourists are required to present proof of their full (double) vaccination status along with a negative PCR test result obtained within 14 days. They can also show a negative result conducted within 48 hours issued in their home country.

3. Unvaccinated visitors will be allowed to enter by presenting a negative PCR test result obtained within 96 hours.

4. Passengers travelling via road to Abu Dhabi will be scanned by the EDE mobile scanning device at the emirate's entry point. People found with potential COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to undergo a free rapid antigen test which delivers the results within 20 minutes. If case the test comes positive, travellers will be allowed to continue into Abu Dhabi but will be mandated to isolate either at a quarantine hotel or their accommodations.

5. Vaccinated tourists coming from Dubai will not be required to undergo any further testing or quarantine measures in Abu Dhabi.

6. Unvaccinated passengers travelling originally from a Green List country and through Dubai or any other emirate, will not be required to quarantine once they arrive in Abu Dhabi.

In case an unvaccinated traveller is travelling from a non-Green List country and through Dubai or other emirates, they will be mandated to quarantine for 10 days once they arrive in Abu Dhabi. If they have spent some days in Dubai or other emirates before travelling to Abu Dhabi, these days can be counted towards the 10-day quarantine period.