Al Hosn App for Tourists: Guide for Securing the Green Pass for Tourists

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Updated 7 November 2022

As a second phase towards easing of restrictions, and after nearly two-and-a-half years of stringent Covid-19 restrictions, the UAE authorities have now announced the lifting of all Covid-19 precautionary measures and rules.

As a part of this, the Al Hosn application will be limited to proof of vaccination certificates and test results inside and outside the country upon request, and the green pass is NO longer required to enter public facilities and sites

Here, we take a look at the Al Hosn app and how international visitors may download and register themselves on the service.

What is the green pass on Al Hosn app?

The Al Hosn app is the official contact tracing and COVID-19 testing-related app of the UAE. The app allows the state’s health authorities to trace people who have been in close proximity to confirmed COVID-19 cases. 

The Al Hosn app involves the generation of a unique personal QR code along with colour codes in accordance with the user’s COVID-related credentials. The colours are grey, green, red, and amber.

The green pass is essentially a digital pass confirming that the user is both fully vaccinated and tested negative for the viral infection. Recently, the UAE Health Ministry has increased the validity of green pass status in the Al Hosn App to 30 days after a PCR test.

The green pass will now stay active for vaccinated individuals, 30 days after a negative PCR test instead of the earlier 14 days. Meanwhile, unvaccinated individuals need to get a PCR test every 7 days to retain the pass.

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What are the benefits of the green pass for tourists and visitors?

Previously, the Al Hosn green pass was mainly essential to gain access to most public places and venues in the UAE.

However, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), recently announced that all restrictions and precautionary measures related to COVID-19 in the UAE have been lifted.

Effective 7 November 2022, travellers in Abu Dhabi are NO longer required to show the Al Hosn green pass to enter public spaces. Therefore, travellers can now enter public places like shopping malls, restaurants, entertainment venues and establishments without the need to present the green pass on their Al Hosn app.

However, as announced by the authorities Covid-19 PCR testing and treatment health facilities will continue to operate and the five-days isolation period for those infected with Covid-19 will still be implemented.

Green pass for tourists to Abu Dhabi

Effective 7 November 2022, travellers in Abu Dhabi are NO longer required to show the Al Hosn green pass to enter public spaces after Covid-19 requirements were lifted in the UAE. Therefore, travellers can now enter public places like shopping malls, restaurants, entertainment venues and establishments without the need to present the green pass on their Al Hosn app

However, as announced by the authorities Covid-19 PCR testing and treatment health facilities will continue to operate and the five-days isolation period for those infected with Covid-19 will still be implemented.

Furthermore, face masks are now optional in all open and closed facilities in Abu Dhabi, including places of worship and mosques.

Green pass for tourists to Dubai

For tourists and visitors to Dubai, there is generally no requirement to present a green pass to enter public places. However, having the Al Hosn app on your phone is still encouraged as it allows you to store your latest vaccination and testing credentials.

Who can obtain the green pass?

The green pass is obtainable provided the user is categorized into the following: 

• vaccinated and has taken a PCR test within the past 30 days
• eligible for an official vaccine exemption. Users in this category will retain their green pass for seven days following a negative PCR test
• under the age of 16. Individuals under the specified age will automatically receive a green status without the requirement of having to take PCR testing 
• users who have been fully vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine at least six months prior are required to take a booster shot to receive the green pass

In short, to get a green pass users must either be vaccinated, have obtained an official exemption, or be under the age of 16.

How to obtain a green pass?

The green pass is obtainable only after downloading and completing the Al Hosn app registration. To register on the Al Hosn app in advance, tourists can now download the app and register themselves using their passport number instead of having to wait for their UID number that is issued as part of their visa.

Tourists may obtain their green pass by taking the following steps:

• visiting the ICA website or accessing the ICA app and inputting their UID, which is the number used by Emirati authorities to identify all arrivals into the country. This number can be found on the visa page, on the entry stamp on the passport, or provided by the immigration authorities at the airport
• tourists may upload their vaccine certification on the portal as well as provide further details regarding the dates and name of the administered vaccine
• the vaccination status of the tourist will automatically be synced between the ICA and the Al Hosn app
• an SMS confirmation containing a link to the Al Hosn app will be sent to the provided phone number. Tourists must then download and install the Al Hosn app before they depart
• once the app has been installed, tourists may simply utilize their UID or passport number and their mobile phone number to complete their registration

Al Hosn app for tourists

Below is the step by step that you can do to register yourself as a tourist in the UAE:

1. Click on the ‘visitor’ icon.
2. Select ‘register’
3. Fill in your details (ensure that your mobile phone that you provide is the same as the one that you submit to the ICP when you arrive in the UAE)
4. Review your information and continue
5. Input the six-digit OTP sent to your mobile phone
6. Verify your profile after arriving in the UAE

 

Note that tourists will require a Unified Identity Number (UID) to complete their registration and activate their green pass reflected on the Al Hosn app. Alternatively, they can also use their passport number to complete the registration process

How to validate overseas vaccine certificate on Al Hosn?

As explained above, vaccination certificates for tourists can be uploaded via the ICA website. Upon submission of the required details, the Al Hosn app will reflect the users’ vaccination status and PCR test results required to activate the green pass.