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Abu Dhabi has nearly doubled its “green list” of countries from which travellers can visit the emirate without going through quarantine upon arrival.
Effective September 1, 2021, the list will cover a total of 55 destinations, up from 28 in the previous update, according to the latest announcement from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
Among those granted the “green” status are countries in Europe, Middle East and Asia, including Italy, Norway, Netherlands, Greece, Japan, Maldives, Qatar, Kuwait ,Oman and Jordan, among many others.
United States and Israel, where COVID -19 cases are again rising, are still excluded from the list.
The UAE has further loosened up its COVID-19 restrictions ahead of the hosting of the World Expo in October this year, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors every month. Last Sunday, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that the worst of the pandemic is over.
The UAE has also announced it will grant tourist visas to visitors from all countries, provided they have been fully vaccinated, opening up the entry for travellers from huge markets that were previously on the restricted list, including India.
Abu Dhabi’s “green list” is updated regularly. All travellers from countries included in the list will be exempt from mandatory quarantine measures after landing in the UAE capital.
As of the previous update, all passengers bound for Abu Dhabi are required to present a negative result of a PCR COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure and undergo a PCR test upon arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The UAE’s tourism sector plummeted last year after the lockdown that forced hotels to shut their doors. Towards the end of 2020, the tourism industry improved, with hotel occupancy rates surpassing 50 percent on the back of strong domestic and international demand.
(Reporting by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria)
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