• Albania. Courtesy Yves Alarie / Unsplash
    Albania. Courtesy Yves Alarie / Unsplash
  • Béjaïa, Algeria. Unsplash/ Walid Amghar
    Béjaïa, Algeria. Unsplash/ Walid Amghar
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    Armenia. Unsplash
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    Australia
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    Austria. Joss Woodhead / Unsplash
  • Baku, Azerbaijan. Unsplash/ Lloyd Alozie
    Baku, Azerbaijan. Unsplash/ Lloyd Alozie
  • Manama, Bahrain. Charles Adrien Fournier / Unsplash
    Manama, Bahrain. Charles Adrien Fournier / Unsplash
  • National Library of Belarus, Minsk. Unsplash/ Eugene Krasnaok
    National Library of Belarus, Minsk. Unsplash/ Eugene Krasnaok
  • Bruges, Belgium. Olivier Depaep / Unsplash
    Bruges, Belgium. Olivier Depaep / Unsplash
  • Višegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unsplash/ Luka Korica
    Višegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unsplash/ Luka Korica
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Unsplash/ Agustin Diaz Gargiulo
    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Unsplash/ Agustin Diaz Gargiulo
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    Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Courtesy Deniz Fuchidzhiev / Unsplash
  • Angkor Wat, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia. Unsplash/ James Dickson
    Angkor Wat, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia. Unsplash/ James Dickson
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    Toronto, Canada. Alex Shutin / Unsplash
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    China
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    Comoros. Photo: Michael Runkel /Robert Harding World Imagery / Corbis
  • Croatia is welcoming travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Unsplash
    Croatia is welcoming travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Unsplash
  • Cyprus. Unsplash
    Cyprus. Unsplash
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    Prague. Czech Republic. Courtesy Lachlan Gowen / Unsplash
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    Copenhagen, Denmark. REUTERS/Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen
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    Finland Photo: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
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    Greece. Courtesy Responsible Travel
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    Hong Kong
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    Budapest, Hungary. Ervin Lukacs / Unsplash
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    Ireland is on the Abu Dhabi Green List again. Unsplash/Jason Murphy
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    Italy. Photographer: Giuseppe Aresu/Bloomberg
  • Japan. Photo: iStockphoto.com
    Japan. Photo: iStockphoto.com
  • Jordan is welcoming travellers and is on the Abu Dhabi green list.
    Jordan is welcoming travellers and is on the Abu Dhabi green list.
  • Kuwait is on the Abu Dhabi Green List but entry for travellers remains severely restricted.. Photograph by Michele Nastasi
    Kuwait is on the Abu Dhabi Green List but entry for travellers remains severely restricted.. Photograph by Michele Nastasi
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    Kyrgyzstan. Photo: William Harbidge
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    Luxembourg. Photo: Airbnb
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    Maldives. Photo: Angsana Velavaru
  • Malta has been added back to the UAE Green List from August 18. Courtesy Unsplash/ Ference Hovarth
    Malta has been added back to the UAE Green List from August 18. Courtesy Unsplash/ Ference Hovarth
  • Mauritius. Courtesy Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
    Mauritius. Courtesy Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
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    Moldova. Courtesy Unsplash
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    Monaco. Photo: Rosemary Behan
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    Yangon, Myanmar. Unsplash/ Alexander Schimmeck
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    Rotterdam, The Netherlands.. Unsplash
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    New Zealand
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    Norway's Pulpit Rock. Photo: Andreas Gruhle / visitnorway.com / Innovation Norway
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    Gdansk, Poland. Courtesy Andrea Anastakis
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    Portugal. Photo: Bloomberg
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    Qatar. Photo: Four Seasons
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    Peles Castle, Romania. Courtesy Majkl Velner
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    Karadordev Park in Belgrade, Serbia. Courtesy Dusan Pokusevski
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    Praslin, Seychelles. Tommaso Nervegna / Unsplash
  • South Korea. Unsplash
    South Korea. Unsplash
  • Slovakia
    Slovakia
  • Lake Bled in Slovenia.
    Lake Bled in Slovenia.
  • Singapore
    Singapore
  • Travellers from Sweden can fly quarantine free to Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Unsplash/Anatoliy Gromov
    Travellers from Sweden can fly quarantine free to Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Unsplash/Anatoliy Gromov
  • Switzerland
    Switzerland
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    Istanbul, Turkey. Unsplash/ Meriç Dağlı
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    Ukraine. Courtesy Kate Nesmieian

Abu Dhabi's green list: no quarantine for travellers from Israel and South Korea


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Travellers flying into the UAE from Israel and South Korea will no longer need to quarantine when landing in Abu Dhabi.

The most up-to-date review of the Green List by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi reveals there are now 14 destinations that visitors can fly from without having to self-isolate.

No countries were removed from the list in the latest update on Sunday.

The 14 countries on the green list:

  • Australia
  • Bhutan
  • Brunei
  • China
  • Greenland
  • Hong Kong
  • Iceland
  • Israel
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • New Zealand
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea

Originally published in December, the list is updated every two weeks and countries can be removed or added, depending on the Covid-19 situation in each.

All international travellers to Abu Dhabi must present a negative PCR test result and take a second PCR test upon entering the capital.

Anyone flying to Abu Dhabi from destinations not on the approved list must quarantine for 10 days on arrival in the capital.

Can I travel to green-listed countries?

Travellers can fly to Abu Dhabi from South Korea without having to quarantine. Unsplash
Travellers can fly to Abu Dhabi from South Korea without having to quarantine. Unsplash

Inclusion on the list does not mean reciprocal travel is open for tourists from the UAE. Israel, for example, is not yet open for tourism purposes. Only citizens and those with special exemption can fly into the country where there is also a 14-day quarantine period in place for most travellers.

This means tourists from the UAE keen to take advantage of the new Etihad Airways service from the UAE to Ben Gurion Airport, which launches on Tuesday, April 6, will need to wait a little longer to see Jerusalem's rich history or enjoy Tel Aviv's beaches.

South Korea also has restrictions on who can travel there, with only certain categories of passengers able to visit at this time. Travellers who can fly into the country must have a valid PCR test result and all short-term visitors without an exemption certificate will have to quarantine in an approved facility for 14 days.

Which countries on Abu Dhabi's green list are open for holidays?

Iceland is open without the need for quarantine to holidaymakers who have been vaccinated
Iceland is open without the need for quarantine to holidaymakers who have been vaccinated

Of the 14 countries in the most recent update of the Abu Dhabi Green List, only two of them are valid options for a quarantine-free holiday for Abu Dhabi residents.

Iceland is one country on the list where travel could be possible for some Abu Dhabi residents. The country has reopened to fully vaccinated travellers. Tourists with approved vaccination certificates flying into Iceland will not need to quarantine upon arrival. However, 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 destinations, 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.

Brunei is open to a very limited number of travellers with hotel quarantine and Singapore is open to short-term business travellers, but from approved countries as part of the region's safe travel schemes.

Australia, Bhutan, China, Greenland, Hong Kong, Mauritius, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia remain closed for tourism.

The biog

Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology

Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels

Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs

Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends

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What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

THURSDAY'S FIXTURES

4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors

6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils

8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers

The specs

Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm

Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto

Price: From Dh139,995

On sale: now

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Manchester United v Liverpool

Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)

The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

On sale: now

%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EGlobal%20Islamic%20economy%20to%20grow%203.1%25%20to%20touch%20%242.4%20trillion%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fuk-economy-plunges-into-worst-ever-recession-after-record-20-4-contraction-1.1062560%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EUK%20economy%20plunges%20into%20worst-ever%20recession%20after%20record%2020.4%25%20contraction%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EIslamic%20economy%20consumer%20spending%20to%20increase%2045%25%20to%20%243.2tn%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel

6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

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Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
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UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

While you're here
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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