*adds Turkey*…

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi’s (DCT) has updated its Green List’ of countries, regions and territories for February. The new list came into effect yesterday, Monday, February 15, 2022.

Passengers arriving from the ‘Green List’ destinations are exempt from mandatory quarantine measures. For arrival from non Green List countries, quarantine will be mandatory for some categories (those not fully vaccinated), and there are different PCR testing requirements. More info on that below.

And for full entry rules on entering and leaving Abu Dhabi, check out our full feature on the subject.

What are the big changes this time around?

There is only one, Turkey has joined the list. All other countries on the previous list have retained their Green Status.

PCR requirements for arrival from Green List countries

Travellers will be required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result, valid for a maximum of 48 hours before departure. Passengers will have to take another PCR test upon arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Vaccinated passengers from the updated ‘Green List’ will take another PCR test on Day 6 (the day of arrival into Abu Dhabi is counted as Day 1). Whereas, unvaccinated travellers arriving from the ‘Green List’ countries are required to take PCR tests on Day 6 and Day 9.

What is the Green List?

The Abu Dhabi ‘Green List’ of countries is a collection of international territories that have been deemed as a low-risk of bringing Covid-19 into the emirate. The list is compiled through a thorough analysis of pandemic management criteria, in areas such as infection and vaccination rates, government policy, entry requirements and testing protocol.

The green list refers to inbound travel origin, not citizenship of the passenger.

Below is the updated ‘Green List’ as of 15 February 2021 – 12:01 am:

  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Burma
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • China
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong (SAR)
  • Hungary
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Netherlands
  • Morocco
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Romania
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Syria
  • Seychelles
  • Taiwan, Province of China
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Yemen
  • Turkmenistan
  • Ukraine
  • United States of America
  • Uzbekistan

Travel corridors

If you have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (final dose received at least 28 days before travel), you will also not be required to quarantine when you travel between Abu Dhabi and the following countries: Bahrain, Greece, Serbia and Seychelles.

What is the Green List?

The Abu Dhabi ‘Green List’ of countries is a collection of international territories that have been deemed as a low-risk of bringing Covid-19 into the emirate. The list is compiled through a thorough analysis of pandemic management criteria, in areas such as infection and vaccination rates, government policy, entry requirements and testing protocol.

The green list refers to inbound travel origin, not citizenship of the passenger.

PCR requirements for arrival from Green List countries

No passengers arriving from Green List countries will have to quarantine — regardless of vaccination status (although if you’re unvaccinated, you will be restricted from visiting most public spaces — as it’s a required element of the Alhosn Green Pass, which is essential for entering almost all places in the capital).

Everyone will need to take at least one PCR test however.

Vaccinated passengers arriving from Green List countries will need a PCR on arrival, and on day six.

Unvaccinated passengers arriving from Green List countries will need a PCR on arrival, and on day six and nine.

PCR and quarantine for arrival from non Green List countries

Vaccinated passengers arriving from non-Green List countries will need a PCR on arrival, and on days four and eight.

Unvaccinated passengers arriving from non-Green List countries must quarantine for 10 days, and will need a PCR on arrival, and on day nine.

How tourists prove they’ve been vaccinated

Vaccine certificates will be essential for those wishing to enter the UAE on these updated rules. Tourists must get their documents registered on the ICA website five days prior to the departure date. We recommend doing this on the desktop site, as there is more reported functionality.

Step one, download the ICA app and fill in the form under the Register Arrival section. Here you’ll be able to upload your vaccination certificates and once completed, you’ll be sent an SMS with a link to download the Alhosn app. You’ll need to use the same phone number on the ICA app, as you use for the Alhosn app — we recommend that you use a UAE sim (you can change the registered phone number registered to the ICA via the ICA app).

Next you’ll need a UID number, this can be provided at the airport when you arrive or via the ICA website. This is essential for setting up your profile on the Alhosn app. You’ll need to link a phone number to the Alhosn account (the same one you’ve used for the ICA).

Images: Getty