IMPORTANT NOTE: Be a responsible traveler! All information on this post is accurate from the time of writing. Rules, regulations, and guidelines are updated frequently and may change without Klook’s prior notice. For your safety, check with the respective destination directly before your travels.
Make the most out of your Dubai trip and head over Abu Dhabi with this handy guide!
With the Dubai Expo 2020 on every traveler’s radar, it’s no surprise that tourism in the UAE is on a steady rise. Lotus-eaters from all over the world enjoy the City of Gold’s abundance of entertainment and jaw-dropping urban structures. But there’s more to the UAE than just Dubai, and that’s why you should set your sights on Abu Dhabi once you’ve landed in the country.
Abu Dhabi is unlike any other capital city you’ve seen before. It has its very own Louvre, an island dedicated to family fun, and an overall aesthetic that combines Arabian culture and modern design. But with the pandemic still hanging over our heads, what exactly are the Dubai to Abu Dhabi travel rules?
Here, we list down everything you need to know about Dubai to Abu Dhabi travel. So keep your notes close and dive into the new normal of traveling!
Abu Dhabi Entry from other Emirates
Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/abu-dhabi-mosque-architecture-4902818/
Entry to Abu Dhabi is different if you’re coming from another emirate. Currently, fully vaccinated tourists can enter UAE with only a vaccination certificate. However, rules for entry to public places in Abu Dhabi still require visitors to present a green pass on their Alhosn app and go through EDE scanners.
EDE scanners rapidly detect potential COVID-19 cases by measuring alterations in electromagnetic waves through smartphones connected to a sensor. It’s an instant test that will either turn green or red:
- If the scanner turns green, you will be allowed to enter
- If the scanner turns red, you will be required to take a free COVID-19 antigen test at an on-site testing center
Note that the PCR test is completely free, even for tourists. It only takes 20 minutes for the test results to show and there are on-site testing centers all over the city. If you test positive, you must return to the emirate you departed from and notify health authorities.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated tourists can still visit UAE and Abu Dhabi, as long as they present a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 48 hours from departure. They can also present a certificate of COVID-19 recovery with an issue date of at least 30 days. They will still have to take a PCR test in Abu Dhabi to maintain their green status on the Alhosn app.
What to Expect in Abu Dhabi 2021
Since Abu Dhabi is the capital of UAE, extra measures are being taken to maintain its low infection rates. As long as you have a green status on your Alhosn app, you can enter malls, supermarkets, restaurants, and more. Here are some things to remember:
- To maintain your green status, you must receive a negative PCR test every 14 days
- You must be inoculated with two doses of the same WHO-approved vaccine brand
- Vaccine certificates with QR codes are valid in the UAE and are equivalent to the certificate generated by the Alhosn app
Tourists can use the Alhosn app to easily show their proof of vaccination and their latest test result. You can find the step-by-step process on how to register on Alhosn here.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi Travel Inspo
Now that you know all the requirements and restrictions, it’s time to get inspired with travel ideas! Check out the best things to do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi:
