13 new drive-through testing centres open across UAE
ABU DHABI — The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) on Thursday announced the opening of 13 new drive-through Covid-19 testing facilities across the UAE. These are in addition to the centre opened at Zayed Sports City earlier.
This follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for curbing the spread of coronavirus.
Rashid Al Qubaisi, group deputy CEO, SEHA, said: “In collaboration with our strategic partners across the UAE, SEHA has equipped all drive-through centres with the most advanced testing systems, techniques and globally-accredited healthcare teams.
“All centres are equipped with the latest testing systems and medical devices. There are 630 experienced and qualified medical professionals from SEHA’s network, working at the centres.”
He added: “Members of the community seeking to get tested at the drive-through centres will be able to complete the test within five minutes. Thanks to all these factors, we have been able to test 7,000 people since the opening of the Zayed Sports City centre.”
A total of 317 employees and volunteers worked on completing the construction of the centres, which spans a total area of 23,000 square metres.
According to authorities, more than 12,000 people have been tested since at the centres over the past days.
Mohammed Hawas Al Sadid, CEO, SEHA Ambulatory Healthcare Services, explained the process for getting an appointment, saying that citizens and residents can book an appointment through the SEHA hotline 800 1717 or the SEHA app. Users of the app and hotline will be asked to answer a few questions to help evaluate their condition, and subsequently given an appointment time to get tested for Covid-19.
He added that priority will be given to individuals having Covid-19 symptoms or those who are most vulnerable to the infection, including pregnant women, the elderly, people of determination and those suffering from chronic illnesses.
For those looking for elective testing and for assurance of being cleared of the virus, the test is priced at Dh370 and can be paid through the SEHA app. Callers of the hotline may also be directed to pay through the app.
Locations and working hours
Seven drive-through testing centres have so far opened in Abu Dhabi, of which three are located in Abu Dhabi City, Al Wathba and Al Bahia. The Abu Dhabi centres are open from 8am to 8pm, from Sunday to Thursday.
Two centres are in Al Ain — in the Asharj and Al Hili areas. Each centre is capable of accommodating up to 600 individual bookings.
Other two centres opened in Ghayathi and near the Madinat Zayed Council in Al Dhafra are operational from Saturday to Thursday 8am–12pm and 4pm8pm and and have a capacity to test 800 people a day.
In Dubai, there are two facilities, located at Port Rashid and Al Khawaneej.
One centre each has been opened in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Each of these seven centres outside Abu Dhabi are equipped to test 500 people a day, and are open from Sundays to Thursdays, and timings are 10am to 6pm.