No additional destinations have been added to Abu Dhabi's updated list of countries and destinations from which travellers can enter the emirate without the need to quarantine.
In the most up-to-date review of the "green list" of countries, regions and territories that require no quarantine in Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan was removed.
No additional destinations were added to the updated list on Sunday. The amendment was the last regularly scheduled update ahead of the UAE spring break holiday, which will start on Sunday.
Originally published in December, the list is updated every two weeks and countries can be removed or added to it depending on the Covid-19 situation in each destination.
Travellers flying into Abu Dhabi, or into Dubai and then travelling by road to the capital, from countries that are not ranked on the "green list" must quarantine upon arrival.
Travellers from these 12 countries do not need to quarantine in the UAE
- Australia
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- China
- Greenland
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- New Zealand
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
Is travel to 'green listed' countries open without quarantine?
Travellers who plan to visit one of the destinations listed on Abu Dhabi's non-quarantine list over the spring break period, or at any time, should be aware that not all countries on the list allow reciprocal quarantine-free travel.
Some destinations have not yet reopened for tourism and others have strict regulations in place for arriving visitors.
It's critical to check individual destination requirements for the most recent regulations, and people who plan to travel should be aware that entry rules and flight availability can and do change rapidly.
Kazakhstan, which was removed from the list in the most recent update on Sunday, is not open for tourism purposes.
Authorities in the central Asian country have imposed restrictions on people entering the country, with most foreign nationals not allowed to visit at this time.
'Green' list countries where Abu Dhabi residents can take a holiday
Of the 12 countries in the most recent update of Abu Dhabi's "green" list, only two of them are valid options for a quarantine-free holiday for Abu Dhabi residents.
Australia, Bhutan, China, Greenland, Hong Kong, Mauritius, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia remain closed for tourism purposes. Brunei is open to a very limited number of travellers with hotel quarantine upon arrival. Singapore is open to short-term business travellers from approved countries as part of the region's safe travel schemes.
Iceland is one country on the list where travelling could be possible for some Abu Dhabi residents. The country is reopening to fully vaccinated travellers on Friday. Tourists with approved vaccination certificates flying into Iceland will not need to quarantine upon arrival. Currently, there are no direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Iceland, but connections exist via Etihad, Lufthansa and Icelandair.
Morocco is another holiday option. The kingdom reopened to travellers from 35 territories, including the UAE, in March. Inbound tourists must present a negative PCR Covid-19 test and show proof of a booking at a Moroccan hotel, but there are no quarantine requirements. Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to Casablanca, with three flights per week.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
J%20Street%20Polling%20Results
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