Abu Dhabi entry rules tweaked

abu dhabi — The Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee for Covid-19 Pandemic on Wednesday announced new requirements for entering the emirate.

Starting Sunday, November 8, all UAE citizens and expats, including returning Abu Dhabi residents, must enter the emirate within 48 hours of receiving a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or diffractive phase interferometry (DPI) laser test result.

Residents and visitors will need to undergo additional tests in the emirate based on their period of stay.

If they stay on for more than four days, they must mandatorily take a PCR test on the fourth day. The day of arrival is counted as the first day. If they stay for more than eight days, they must take another PCR test on the eighth day.

The new requirements nullify the earlier rule announced on September 4, where a mandatory PCR test had to be taken on the sixth day.

“Those failing to take the PCR tests on day 4 and 8 are liable for fines,” the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office tweeted.

The requirements explained

The media office illustrated the new requirements with this example: “If entering Abu Dhabi on Sunday (day 1), and staying for four or more days, a PCR test is mandatory on Wednesday (day 4). If staying for eight or more days, a PCR test is mandatory on Wednesday (day 4) as well as on the following Sunday (day 8).”

The requirements were tweaked to “enhance the preventative measures for the early detection of Covid-19”.

A PCR test costs between Dh150-250, while the DPI one costs Dh50.

Who are exempted?

Volunteers of the Covid-19 vaccine trials and those taking the jab under the emergency use programme are exempted from these measures and are authorised to use emergency vehicle lanes for a smooth journey.

Restrictions to enter the UAE Capital have been in place since June 2 to ensure mass Covid-19 testing and contain the spread of the virus. Doorto-door Covid-19 testing has recently been expanded to densely populated areas of Abu Dhabi.

The UAE has been championing mass testing to stop the spread of the virus. Over 13.5 million tests have been conducted since the onset of the pandemic. About 116,083 new tests were carried out on Wednesday alone.

The country recorded 1,161 cases of the coronavirus, along with 1,493 recoveries. Two deaths were also reported.

Thanks to mass testing and advanced healthcare, the number of active cases fell below 2,000 for the first time on the day. About 1,822 residents have the virus as on Wednesday.