Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi
In a new update, the travel restrictions on entering the emirate of Abu Dhabi have been tightened by Abu Dhabi’s Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee. Commuters to Abu Dhabi must now present a negative PCR nasal-swab test (AED 370) in order to be granted access to the UAE capital, while previously, entry was granted via merely the rapid DPI laser test (AED 50).
According to the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office, “entry will be allowed within 48 hours of receiving a negative PCR test result, or with a negative DPI laser test result accompanied by a negative PCR test result received within six days. The Committee states that the same type of test cannot be taken twice in a row within six days.”
The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee, in cooperation with @DoHSocial, approves two tests to enter the emirate effective 27 August 2020, enhancing precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/TclavviPUi
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) August 25, 2020
The new rule comes as the UAE sees a spike in the number of Covid-19 infections and authorities urge residents to strike a balance between practicing safety precautions and returning to normal life.
In July, it was announced that entry into the emirate of Abu Dhabi was permitted to those with negative Covid-19 results. The announcement was made by the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee which is tasked with combatting the virus in the capital, and in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and Abu Dhabi Police.
It stated that residents will be allowed to enter Abu Dhabi, provided that they present a negative coronavirus test that would have to be taken within the previous 48 hours. According to the committee, the negative test results could either be shown to the police at the emirate’s border via the AlHosn tracing app or by presenting a text message sent by a hospital or screening center recognized by the UAE’s National Screening Programme.
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Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee for the Covid-19 Pandemic, in collaboration with @DoHSocial and @ADPoliceHQ, announce that entering #AbuDhabi emirate is permitted for all those who have received negative test results within the previous 48 hours. pic.twitter.com/aFfoe6ZnUu
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) June 29, 2020
The authorities have also reminded residents and citizens to continue following the precautionary measures which include wearing masks, and ensuring that there are no more than the permitted number of people within vehicles. A movement ban had been placed on the capital on June 5 as part of which entry and exit to and from Abu Dhabi had been prohibited. This restriction was put in place to help the capital’s mass testing program and has outlasted the National Sterilization Programme which came to an end on June 24.
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