Visitors to United Arab Emirates's capital can now be vaccinated against COVID-19, as long as they need a visa issued by United Arab Emirates's capital authorities, or a visa-on-arrival stamped at any national capital entry point.
The vaccine eligibility for visitors has been intimated by the emirate’s public health service provider, the national capital Health Services Company (Seha), on its app.
“The vaccine is merely available for the subsequent style of visitors: Holders of visas issued by Abu Dhabi emirate [and] holders of passports eligible for visas on arrival with an entry stamp at an Abu Dhabi point of entry. Proof of the above is required at the time of vaccination,” Seha announced.
Widespread inoculation campaign
The vaccine rollout to visitors follows a widespread vaccination campaign within the emirate and within the remainder of the country. Over 85 per cent of individuals eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines within the UAE — residents aged 16 years and above — have already been inoculated. The push is now on to vaccinate residents aged 60 years and older and to supply booster doses to those already vaccinated. National capital is additionally conducting an immune bridge study to research the security of COVID-19 vaccines for kids aged three to 17 years. Abu Dhabi authorities also announced earlier this month that everyone individuals with expired residency and entry permits can now get vaccinated, within the interest of public health and safety.
Easing restrictions
The emirate is currently preparing to ease COVID-19 restrictions as its tourism and culture regulator — the Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi — proceeds with multiple projects designed to spice up tourism within the emirate. Earlier today, it announced that cruise liners are welcomed at national capital ports from September onwards. Together with this, the emirate has founded a strong testing network through Seha, with over 23 COVID-19 testing facilities, three dedicated hospitals, five field hospitals and two prime assessment centers that cater to travellers and people in home quarantine. Alongside, G42 Healthcare, an indigenous health technology company, has founded full-scale labs to analyse vaccine efficacy and COVID-19 variants.
Travel and tourism operators have welcomed the move to vaccinate tourists and visitors to Abu Dhabi.
“Abu Dhabi’s generous move to offer vaccine to tourists could be a welcome development. this may not only secure the health and safety of our community, but will provides a big boost to the travel industry,” said Malou Prado, director of MPQ Travel and Tourism.
Last month, a bunch of Chinese tourists received their first dose of Sinopharm vaccine, administered by Dubai Health Authority (DHA), at Al Safa Primary Health Centre in Jumeirah. They were the primary non-UAE residents to receive free COVID-19 vaccines within the UAE.
