Foreign tourists from some countries no longer need to undergo quarantine procedures. The measures taken have made Abu Dhabi one of the safest cities in the world. Strict measures taken in the emirate guarantee tourists peace of mind when visiting Abu Dhabi, allowing them to spend time with pleasure and not endanger their health.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 24, 2020: Abu Dhabi will reopen its doors to foreign tourists from December 24, 2020, after the Abu Dhabi Committee for Emergency and Disaster Management reviewed the measures taken in the emirate in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic, including the entry of foreign nationals, according to a statement made yesterday by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.
Abu Dhabi will continue to implement strict health and safety measures to contain the spread of the virus and ensure the well-being of residents and visitors to the emirate. Travelers from all over the world will be able to visit the capital by presenting a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test result obtained within 96 hours of their scheduled departure.
Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, you will need to undergo repeated PCR testing. Those coming from countries included in the "green" list , it will no longer be necessary to comply with the self-isolation regime to obtain a negative result. Travelers from other countries will need to comply with the self-isolation regime during only 10 days . All tourists planning to stay for six to twelve days will need to undergo another PCR test on the sixth day of their stay, and those planning to stay for twelve days or more will need to undergo a PCR test on the twelfth day.
For more information on travel requirements and procedures, as well as a list of countries on the green list, which will be updated every two weeks, please visit https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/plan-your-trip/covid -safe-travel / permitted-countries
At the moment, only Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are on the "green" list among the CIS countries. Citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other post-Soviet countries still have to comply with quarantine upon arrival .
In order to ensure the highest international standards aimed at preserving the health and safety of all residents and visitors of the emirate, Abu Dhabi has taken strict measures, making it one of the safest cities in the world. The results of Abu Dhabi's efforts, initiatives and regulations to contain the spread of Covid-19 while facilitating economic activity have been significant. The measures taken in Abu Dhabi have allowed the emirate to maintain an exceptionally low rate of 0.39 percent of confirmed cases from all tests conducted in the emirate.
His Excellency Saud Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, said: "Openness to the world is a core concept of the Department and we are delighted that foreign tourists will soon be able to visit our beautiful emirate again, knowing that Abu Dhabi is one of the world's safest travel destinations. I am proud to say that the flexibility and innovation that the Department has demonstrated this year as we have rethought our approach to addressing issues related to culture and tourism has ensured that we can welcome tourists from all over the world to our thriving emirate, while ensuring that we protect both their health and well-being and that of the people of the emirate, which will continue to be our top priority."
His Excellency Ali Al Shaibu, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism said: "Abu Dhabi's government and health authorities have set the highest safety standards and their guidelines remain radical and effective, allowing us to welcome foreign tourists without compromising public health. We see great interest from our industry in ensuring compliance, as evidenced by the Department's groundbreaking Go Safe certification, which provides confidence as well as peace of mind for locals and tourists alike."
Close cooperation between the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and various regulatory authorities, including the Ministry of Health, the Department of Economic Development and Abu Dhabi Airport, as well as other stakeholders and major partners such as the UAE's national carrier, Etihad Airways, has helped to create a safe environment for tourism operations in the emirate.
Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group commented: "As the UAE's national carrier, Etihad is leading the way in the aviation industry's response to the global pandemic. To restore confidence in air travel, Etihad has completely overhauled its approach to service delivery and developed its own hygiene and health programs called Etihad Wellness and Wellness Ambassadors. "Etihad is the only airline in the world that provides 100 percent PCR testing of all passengers both before departure and upon arrival, which ensures complete peace of mind for everyone on board.
Etihad has joined forces with all Abu Dhabi organizations to ensure a unified approach to addressing safety and health issues. We are thrilled that Abu Dhabi is reopening its doors to tourism and look forward to reuniting families and friends, as well as welcoming new guests to our cool, safe and prosperous home."
During 2020, Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism launched a number of innovative projects aimed at reassuring consumers, building trust and boosting growth in the tourism sector. Through the groundbreaking Go Safe certification, health and safety authorities have confirmed that hotels, cultural venues, entertainment and shopping centers, as well as other hotel and tourism infrastructure fully comply with strict safety standards, allowing visitors to return home with full confidence in their health.
Other projects include the #StayCurious virtual campaign, which offers educational and entertainment content about the Emirate of Abu Dhabi; the Abu Dhabi Specialist program, which introduces industry professionals to Abu Dhabi's tourism product, enabling them to develop the industry; and Rediscover Abu Dhabi, a campaign to promote domestic tourism and holidays in the country.
