Abu Dhabi to remove Covid-19 border controls from Monday

Al Hosn green pass still required to access public places, emirate's media office says

Al Hosn app, advertised here at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Mandatory entrance procedures carried out at Khalidiyah Mall. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A man shows his green pass status in order to enter Boroughs cafe, at Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Keith O'Donnell gives green pass proof from Al Hosn application at Vogue Fitness, Yas Marina. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa follows the green pass requirement on Al Hosn for entering the hotel. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Al Hosn green pass awareness signs at Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National

Latest: UAE drops mandatory wearing of masks in outside areas

Abu Dhabi has announced it is ending Covid-19 border controls from Monday.

The emirate's Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Committee on Friday said Al Hosn green pass would not be needed to enter Abu Dhabi from February 28, the emirate's media office said.

EDE scanners will also be removed at checkpoints for commuters entering the emirate.

However, the green pass system will still be needed to gain access to public places in the emirate.

Authorities said the decision comes as the recovery phase of the Covid-19 pandemic starts, “supported by the community’s commitment to preventive measures".

It came on the same day as UAE authorities announced the most significant easing of restrictions since April 2020, when the pandemic spread around the world.

Face masks are no longer mandatory outside from February 26, while PCR testing is no longer required from fully vaccinated people.

Changes were also introduced at the country's mosques from Saturday. NCEMA approved the return of the pre-pandemic time intervals between prayer calls and the iqaamah. The iqaamah calls worshippers to pray. A limited number of sanitised copies of the Quran will be available, but worshippers must keep a physical distance of one metre.

Cases have been falling consistently over the past few weeks with 696 new infections on Friday.

The border rules, meanwhile, were introduced in December as the Omicron variant spread around the world with the main checkpoint established at Ghantoot on the E11 Abu Dhabi to Dubai motorway.

Vaccinated people entering Abu Dhabi had to show Al Hosn green pass, while those not vaccinated had to present a negative PCR test result received within 96 hours.

The rules run in conjunction with EDE scanner checks. Officers use a mobile phone application to detect signs of fever.

The reintroduction of rules at the border last December meant a partial return to the border checks that were in place between July 2020 and September 2021 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The UAE's fight against coronavirus - in pictures