The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has opened up tourist visa applications to everyone who has been fully vaccinated with one of the shots approved by the World Health Organisation, in what is a massive boost to the country’s key tourism sector.
The United Arab Emirates is the latest country to reopen to foreign vaccinated travellers, with the new rules having begun on August 30.
The decision applies to citizens of all countries, including those arriving from previously banned nations, state-run WAM reported over the weekend.
The move is part of the United Arab Emirates’ strategy to support “national efforts to achieve sustainable recovery and economic growth,” the news agency said.
Passengers arriving on tourist visas must register their vaccination status on the government’s health app and undergo rapid testing at the airport, according to WAM.
Since scrapping arrivals from countries including India, Pakistan and Nigeria, the UAE has been gradually easing rules on travel.
The country, whose biggest cities include Abu Dhabi and Dubai, started to allow residents to return earlier this month.
The WHO has so far approved shots from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Sinovac.
Cases have been steadily dropping in the UAE, which has also rolled out one of the fastest vaccination programs in the world.
In total, 87 per cent of UAE residents have now received one dose of a vaccine with 76 per cent at the time of writing now fullt vaccinated. Click here for the most up date numbers.
Passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi on or before August 27 must register on the ICA platform five days before their flight, Etihad said on its website.
The guideline does not apply to UAE nationals or passengers transiting through Abu Dhabi, it added.
To register, visit the ICA website.