Three new 24-hour Covid-19 testing centres open in Dubai

A fourth facility that operates by appointment only was opened in Al Lusaily

Dubai Health Authority has opened three new drive-through PCR testing centres and a Covid-19 screening hall. Pawan Singh / The National

Three new drive-through Covid testing centres have been opened in Dubai, the emirate's health authority said on Thursday.

The new facilities were opened by Dubai Health Authority in collaboration with Unilabs, and are located in Al Mankhool, Nad Al Sheba and Nad Al Hammar.

All three are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have the capacity to screen 1,500 people a day.

On Thursday a fourth facility was opened in Al Lusaily. PCR tests are done on an appointment-only basis. Opening hours are 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday and appointments can be booked through the DHA app.

More than 200 screening centres are now available in Dubai, as testing increases during the surge in case numbers.

There are now more than 50,000 active cases of Covid-19 in the UAE, after 1.2 million people took a PCR test in the past two days.

According to the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, more than 119 million tests have been carried out since the beginning of the pandemic.

Demand for tests has surged in the new year as the number of people travelling, returning to school or feeling unwell has increased.

UAE experiences a rise in demand for PCR tests – in pictures

A man taking a PCR test at the centre in Mina Rashed. Pawan Singh / The National

Long queues at VPS Healthcare testing centre. Pawan Singh / The National

Cars queue up at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. There has been a huge increase in the number of people getting tested for the coronavirus as schools opened for the second term and new weekly testing rules for government employees in Abu Dhabi came into force. Antonie Robertson / The National

Many people are also getting tested before travelling overseas. A negative test prior to departure is required for most destinations. Pawan Singh / The National

The average waiting time was two hours at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre on Monday. Antonie Robertson / The National

Some testing centres reported a huge rush and that demand for PCR tests had trebled in recent days. Antonie Robertson / The National

Long queues at testing centres and clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National

To enter Abu Dhabi, vaccinated people must show Al Hosn green pass and those who are not must present a negative PCR test taken less than 96 hours prior to crossing the border. Antonie Robertson / The National

Queues at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through testing centre at Mina Rashed in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Queues outside Parkview Hospital Covid-19 testing facility in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rapid tests are becoming more popular for those needing a quick turnaround to travel or attend events that require proof of negative status. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Covid-19 case numbers in the UAE rose steadily through December as Omicron infections surged globally. Chris Whiteoak / The National