UPFRONT
ABU DHABI LIFTS QUARANTINE MEASURES FOR ALL VACCINATED TRAVELLERS
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ABU DHABI now welcomes fully vaccinated tourists and residents travelling from all countries around the world, as well as unvaccinated visitors from ‘Green List’ countries, with no quarantine measures in force. Vaccines must be approved by the World Health organisation (WHO). Through the Abu Dhabi Green Pass, tourists can register their international vaccination certificate or vaccination exemption document for verification five days before their travel date, via the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) Smart app or via ica.gov.ae website. Applicants receive an SMS confirmation that includes a link to the Alhosn app, which must be downloaded prior to travel. The Alhosn app displays users’ vaccination status and PCR test results, which are required to activate the Abu Dhabi Green Pass. Upon arrival, travellers receive a Unified ID number from airport immigration, or via the ICA Smart app or website; this completes the registration on the Alhosn app. Following a PCR test at the airport, visitors can activate the Green Pass, allowing them entry to all public spaces in the emirate. Visit VisitAbuDhabi.ae, ica.gov.ae and alhosnapp.ae.
UAE launches ‘Green Visa’ to attract foreign investment and talent THE UAE has launched a national campaign to attract foreign investment and talent. It includes a new ‘Green Visa’, enabling expatriates to work in the country without being sponsored by an employer. The ‘United Global Emirates’ initiative targets investors, highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs and start-ups, as well as graduates. Green visa holders will be able to sponsor their parents and children up to the age of 25 on their permits. OCTOBER 2021
Expo 2020 Dubai ups its safety measures EXPO 2020 DUBAI, the largest event to be staged in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region and the first World Expo hosted in the Arab world, has opened its doors. The six-month event, the largest global gathering since the start of the pandemic, has introduced enhanced entry measures to protect the safety of the millions of visitors it anticipates. To enter the Expo site, ticket holders aged 18 and above are required to present proof of having received any COVID vaccine recognised by their national government or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. While non-vaccinated visitors are strongly encouraged to get tested before coming to Expo, a facility adjacent to the Expo 2020 is conducting free PCR tests on presentation of a valid Expo 2020 ticket, with results expected within four hours.
The measures build on existing protocols to ensure the health and safety of all Expo visitors, participants and staff, including on-site sanitisation stations, mandatory face-masks indoors and outdoors and two-metre social distancing rules. All Expo and international participant staff, volunteers, contractors and service providers must be vaccinated. For a full guide to Expo 2020 Dubai and convenient hotels, see pages 20-41.
3
million The number of visitors to Dubai from January to July 2021
61% Average hotel occupancy from January to July 2021, the third highest globally
