• Etihad Wellness Ambassador prepares to welcome passengers on board an Etihad aircraft. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
    Etihad Wellness Ambassador prepares to welcome passengers on board an Etihad aircraft. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
  • Stickers on the floor encouraging passengers to remain 2 metres apart while queueing. Courtesy of Etihad Airways.
    Stickers on the floor encouraging passengers to remain 2 metres apart while queueing. Courtesy of Etihad Airways.
  • TV screen encouraging travellers to wear masks. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
    TV screen encouraging travellers to wear masks. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
  • Plastic barriers around the check in area protecting both staff and passengers. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
    Plastic barriers around the check in area protecting both staff and passengers. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
  • Signage encouraging social distancing on public seating in Abu Dhabi International Airport. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
    Signage encouraging social distancing on public seating in Abu Dhabi International Airport. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
  • Temperature scanning at a sanitisation booth. Courtesy of Etihad Airways.
    Temperature scanning at a sanitisation booth. Courtesy of Etihad Airways.
  • A passenger receiving an Etihad Wellness kit. Courtesy of Etihad Airways
    A passenger receiving an Etihad Wellness kit. Courtesy of Etihad Airways

Abu Dhabi airport to offer free PCR tests on arrival with results in 90 minutes


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  • Arabic

All arriving passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport will be offered a free PCR test, with results available in 90 minutes.

The lab is located inside the airport and will test samples for quick results.

The new fast RT-PCR testing service has been launched with Pure Health labs and Tamouh Healthcare.

Passengers arriving through terminals 1 and 3 will be tested.

Results of the tests will be shared by SMS and WhatsApp and will be available on the Al Hosn mobile app.

Passengers who receive a negative result and are from the list of "green" countries specified by the government of Abu Dhabi will not have to self-isolate.

Those not from the green list will have to self-isolate for 10 days, and will require a quarantine wristband fitted at the PCR testing tent at the airport.

Participants in the National Vaccination Programme and Phase III clinical trials who have an identification mark – a letter E or a gold star – on Al Hosn app are exempt from self-quarantine procedures.

Passengers transiting through the airport will not be tested.

There will be more than 190 medics at the airport and the lab has the capacity to test more than 20,000 travellers and staff daily.

Originally published in December, the green list is updated regularly, with the most recent change taking place on Monday.

There are now 13 destinations included on Abu Dhabi's travel list. Inclusion is dependent upon the latest developments regarding a country’s Covid-19 protocols and guidelines.

These destinations are: Australia, Bhutan, Brunei, China, Greenland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Morocco, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

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

Not all countries on Abu Dhabi's green list are open for tourism. Travellers should check individual destination requirements.

As of March 4, here are the Covid-19 rules in Abu Dhabi:

  • Diners are limited to four per table, even for family members living in the same home
  • Malls are limited to 40 per cent capacity
  • Restaurants, cafes, hotels and public beaches and parks cannot have more than 60 per cent of their typical number of visitors
  • Gyms, private beaches and swimming pools cannot be more than half full
  • Cinemas have been closed
  • Public transport, such as taxis and buses, are limited to 45 per cent and 75 per cent capacity, respectively
  • Up to 10 family members can gather together but they must wear face masks and remain at least two metres apart
  • Parties and other social gatherings have been banned
  • Entry to Abu Dhabi requires either a DPI or PCR test taken within a certain time of travel to the emirate from another part of the country
  • A DPI test result is valid for 24 hours to enter Abu Dhabi but cannot be used to enter Abu Dhabi on two consecutive occasions. If the individual stays in Abu Dhabi for more than 48 hours will have to take PCR test on day three of entry, and a second PCR on day seven, if they remain in the emirate for a week or more. The day of entry to Abu Dhabi is considered day one
  • A PCR test result must be received within 48 hours of entry into the capital. If the person stays in Abu Dhabi for four days or more, they must take another PCR test on day four and day eight

The countries on Abu Dhabi's 'green' list

  • Albania. Courtesy Yves Alarie / Unsplash
    Albania. Courtesy Yves Alarie / Unsplash
  • Béjaïa, Algeria. Unsplash/ Walid Amghar
    Béjaïa, Algeria. Unsplash/ Walid Amghar
  • Armenia. Unsplash
    Armenia. Unsplash
  • Australia
    Australia
  • Austria. Joss Woodhead / Unsplash
    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
  • Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Courtesy Deniz Fuchidzhiev / Unsplash
    Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Courtesy Deniz Fuchidzhiev / Unsplash
  • Angkor Wat, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia. Unsplash/ James Dickson
    Angkor Wat, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia. Unsplash/ James Dickson
  • Toronto, Canada. Alex Shutin / Unsplash
    Toronto, Canada. Alex Shutin / Unsplash
  • China
    China
  • Comoros. Photo: Michael Runkel /Robert Harding World Imagery / Corbis
    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
  • Prague. Czech Republic. Courtesy Lachlan Gowen / Unsplash
    Prague. Czech Republic. Courtesy Lachlan Gowen / Unsplash
  • Copenhagen, Denmark. REUTERS/Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen
    Copenhagen, Denmark. REUTERS/Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen
  • Finland Photo: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
    Finland Photo: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
  • Germany
    Germany
  • Greece. Courtesy Responsible Travel
    Greece. Courtesy Responsible Travel
  • Hong Kong
    Hong Kong
  • Budapest, Hungary. Ervin Lukacs / Unsplash
    Budapest, Hungary. Ervin Lukacs / Unsplash
  • Ireland is on the Abu Dhabi Green List again. Unsplash/Jason Murphy
    Ireland is on the Abu Dhabi Green List again. Unsplash/Jason Murphy
  • Italy. Photographer: Giuseppe Aresu/Bloomberg
    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
  • Kyrgyzstan. Photo: William Harbidge
    Kyrgyzstan. Photo: William Harbidge
  • Luxembourg. Photo: Airbnb
    Luxembourg. Photo: Airbnb
  • Maldives. Photo: Angsana Velavaru
    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
  • Moldova. Courtesy Unsplash
    Moldova. Courtesy Unsplash
  • Monaco. Photo: Rosemary Behan
    Monaco. Photo: Rosemary Behan
  • Yangon, Myanmar. Unsplash/ Alexander Schimmeck
    Yangon, Myanmar. Unsplash/ Alexander Schimmeck
  • Rotterdam, The Netherlands.. Unsplash
    Rotterdam, The Netherlands.. Unsplash
  • New Zealand
    New Zealand
  • Norway's Pulpit Rock. Photo: Andreas Gruhle / visitnorway.com / Innovation Norway
    Norway's Pulpit Rock. Photo: Andreas Gruhle / visitnorway.com / Innovation Norway
  • Oman
    Oman
  • Gdansk, Poland. Courtesy Andrea Anastakis
    Gdansk, Poland. Courtesy Andrea Anastakis
  • Portugal. Photo: Bloomberg
    Portugal. Photo: Bloomberg
  • Qatar. Photo: Four Seasons
    Qatar. Photo: Four Seasons
  • Peles Castle, Romania. Courtesy Majkl Velner
    Peles Castle, Romania. Courtesy Majkl Velner
  • San Marino
    San Marino
  • Saudi Arabia
    Saudi Arabia
  • Karadordev Park in Belgrade, Serbia. Courtesy Dusan Pokusevski
    Karadordev Park in Belgrade, Serbia. Courtesy Dusan Pokusevski
  • Praslin, Seychelles. Tommaso Nervegna / Unsplash
    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
  • Taiwan
    Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
    Tajikistan
  • Istanbul, Turkey. Unsplash/ Meriç Dağlı
    Istanbul, Turkey. Unsplash/ Meriç Dağlı
  • Turkmenistan
    Turkmenistan
  • Ukraine. Courtesy Kate Nesmieian
    Ukraine. Courtesy Kate Nesmieian