Green Pass on Al Hosn App Explained: What the New Color Codes Mean

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Updated 8 November 2022

The Al Hosn app’s colour-coded system is designed to reflect vaccination-related status and validity. The app grants the green pass to anyone able to satisfy the UAE’s test and vaccination requirements.

Here we take a look at the Al Hosn app and what the green pass along with its three categories would mean for UAE residents and their ability to access public venues.

Al Hosn green pass update

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.

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 the UAE, including places of worship and mosques.

Al Hosn color-coded system explained

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has implemented a color-coded system into the Al Hosn app. The system allows users to promptly display their vaccination status as well as their latest PCR test results. The app features four colors – green, red and grey.

Concerning users’ PCR test results, the three colour codes integrated into the system are as follows:

Green

The ‘Green Status’ or ‘Green Pass’ can be secured by fully vaccinated individuals who have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE. To remain active, the Green Pass also requires a booster dose six months after the second/last vaccine dose.

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.

Additionally, the green status is also granted to those who are officially exempted from vaccination and have a negative PCR test result from the past 7 days. All holders of the green pass are permitted to enter all public places.

Red

The user’s latest PCR test result is positive. After receiving a positive result, the user has not followed up with two negative PCR test results. A 24-hour duration is required between the two tests.

Grey

Those with a grey status are categorized as follows:

• unvaccinated
• have not yet received a booster dose six months after their second vaccine dose
• fully vaccinated or officially exempted but the PCR test validity has expired
• unvaccinated and in quarantine after travelling abroad
• registered in the home quarantine program after coming into contact with a positive case

What is the Al Hosn green pass?

The Al Hosn green pass is a digital document accessible through the Al Hosn app. It is used in the UAE to prove an individual’s vaccination status.

 

The benefits of Al Hosn green pass

The colour-coded system on the Al Hosn app is utilized to ease movement and enable tourism across the country. The Al Hosn travel pass is also compatible with the EU DCC and IATA Travel Pass systems. In addition to showing the vaccination certificate of the holder, the app is able to reveal the COVID-19 test result of the user.

Access to EmSAT pass

The EmSAT pass is also available for applicants who wish to safely enter EmSAT testing centres.

Entry to public areas 

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.

Nevertheless, 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.

Moreover, wearing face masks is now optional in all open and closed facilities, including places of worship and mosques, except for health facilities and centres for people of determination, where it is mandatory.

Al Hosn as vaccine pass for travel to the EU

Vaccine certificates issued in the UAE have now been officially recognized and connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) and will allow fully vaccinated UAE travellers to enter the EU member countries with little or no restrictions. This will render travel between the UAE and the EU much easier.

Obtaining the green pass on the Al Hosn app

Needless to say, to be able to obtain the green pass, individuals would first need to install and activate the Al Hosn app on their mobile devices. The process of doing this differs between UAE nationals/residents and visitors/tourists as follows. 

UAE Residents

Both UAE nationals and residents may simply download and install the Al Hosn app on either Google Play or App Store. Following installation, residents need to register and activate the app by entering their Emirates ID and their registered phone number.

Upon registration, their account is automatically linked to any testing or vaccination facility across the UAE. This enables residents to view their latest testing and vaccination status as soon as they have been made available. Residents may then obtain a QR code to share their test report or vaccination certificate.

Residents may also add family members such as parents and children, making all the family’s testing and vaccination information readily available within the app.

Should a holder meets the necessary testing and vaccination requirements, they will promptly receive their green status. Users can also share their vaccine exemption certificates with others in the same way that the app allows for the sharing of PCR test records and vaccination certificates.

To maintain their vaccination status, users must receive a booster dose if the second dose was administered six months or earlier. Booster shots are now mandatory for fully vaccinated UAE residents and nationals visiting Abu Dhabi. Those who wish to maintain a ‘green pass’ on the app must get their booster shots for all types of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Green pass for tourists and visit visa holders

To be able to download and install the Al Hosn app, all foreign nationals visiting the UAE must first register their arrival and vaccination status via ICA Smart Services. The registration process must be completed before departure. 

International visitors and tourists coming travelling to Abu Dhabi, do not require a booster dose to enter the emirate.

Please do refer to our dedicated article on securing the green pass for tourists.

Green pass in Al Hosn after a positive result

Since many recovered COVID-19 patients continue to test positive for some time, the Al Hosn app provides users with two options to return from the red to green status to visit public places:

• once you tested positive for COVID-19, you can quarantine for 5 days until your status automatically turns green on day 6. You will then continue to have a ‘green status’ for 30 days after which you will need to undergo a PCR test every 30 days to maintain the ‘green status’ on Al Hosn
• if you have recovered completely within 5 days, you have the option of taking 2 negative PCR tests which will result in a ‘green status’ on the app for 30 days. In the next 60 days, you will then need to undergo a PCR test every 30 days to maintain the green code.

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are exempt from taking a vaccine or booster dose for 90 days.

Maintaining your green status

According to the latest updates announced by the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee, the PCR test validity of Green Pass has now been increased from 14 to 30 days effective 28 September 2022. Therefore, a negative PCR test on the Al Hosn app will get the fully vaccinated arrivals a green status for 30 days.

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.

Nevertheless, 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.

Moreover, wearing face masks is now optional in all open and closed facilities, including places of worship and mosques, except for health facilities and centres for people of determination, where it is mandatory.