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Updated 16 February 2022
The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, has reopened for international travels. But while tourists and residents alike are permitted to enter Abu Dhabi, strict measures extending to PCR tests and quarantine are currently in effect. It’s worth noting that these measures also apply to travellers from neighboring Dubai.
However, if you are travelling to Abu Dhabi from a country on the green list or if you are fully vaccinated, you would not need to serve quarantine. The following is the full list of green countries, regions and territories allowed entry into Abu Dhabi.
Remember that exemptions apply only for passengers coming from countries on the green list. Exemptions are not based on citizenship.
Visa requirements for the green-listed countries
Travellers from most countries on the green list are eligible for a visa on arrival. They can simply fly to Abu Dhabi and head to the immigration department.
You can also fly to Abu Dhabi if you are a UAE national or resident, you are eligible for a visa on arrival or you hold a visit visa for Abu Dhabi.
Entry from Dubai or other Emirates
Fully vaccinated international passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi from Dubai or other Emirates will need to follow these guidelines:
Download the ICA Smart Services app and complete the registration, this does not apply to UAE nationals or transit travellers.
Download the Al Hosn app, which is the Green Pass gateway to most of Abu Dhabi’s public places.
The Green Pass will be activated for 14 days for fully vaccinated individuals who receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test result.
Those who do not have Al Hosn app installed can present proof of full vaccination via a certificate from their home country, as well as a negative PCR test result within the last 14 days if the test was taken in the UAE.
All passengers will be scanned by EDE devices at the border to gain permission to enter the emirate. Those showing COVID-19 symptoms will need to undergo a free rapid antigen test.
Abu Dhabi residents who test positive will fitted with a tracking wristband and will need to quarantine for 10 days. Non-Abu Dhabi residents who receive a positive test result will have to return to the emirate from which they travelled and notify the local health authorities.
Only UAE nationals, residents with a valid residence visa, and those who are eligible for a visa on arrival can enter the UAE through Abu Dhabi’s airports. If you are travelling to Abu Dhabi, you must follow these additional rules:
have a negative PCR test result issued within 48 hours of departure or a negative DPI test result issued within 24 hours of departure
download the ALHOSN UAE app on your mobile phones before you travel to Abu Dhabi
undergo a thermal screening and another COVID-19 PCR testing on arrival at Abu Dhabi airport
Abu Dhabi has also established quarantine-free travel corridors for fully vaccinated travellers (final dose received at least 28 days before travel) with:
Bahrain
Greece
Serbia
Seychelles
Abu Dhabi quarantine and testing regulations
Guidelines for vaccinated passengers
If you are coming from green countries, you do not need to quarantine yourself. However, you will need to do an RT-PCR test on arrival and on day 6 from arrival.
If you are coming from other countries, you do not need to quarantine yourself. You will need to do an RT-PCR test on arrival, day 4 and day 8 from arrival.
To be fully vaccinated, you must have received two doses of the same vaccine at least 14 days before departure. Information about the vaccine must be documented on the Al Hosn app.
Guidelines for non-vaccinated passengers
If you are coming from green countries, you do not need to quarantine yourself. However, you will need to do an RT-PCR test on arrival, days 6 and 9 from arrival.
If you are coming from other countries, you must quarantine yourself for 10 days. Additionally, you will need to do an RT-PCR test on arrival and on day 9 from arrival.
If you have arrived from a country that the UAE authorities deem are high-risk, then you will be subject to quarantine at a government facility.
The vaccinated protocol applies to all vaccinated UAE citizens and residents in the emirate of Abu Dhabi who received their second vaccine dose at least 28 days earlier, which is documented in the vaccine report on the Al Hosn app.
Children under 12 are exempt from testing unless they show symptoms.
Entry from earlier banned countries
Recently, the UAE government has lifted the travel ban for fully vaccinated travellers from the 12 earlier banned countries, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
UAE residents who have received their booster dose will also be allowed to travel to those countries.
