UAE resumes issuing tourist visas to vaccinated travellers from all countries

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it will resume issuing tourist visas to vaccinated travellers from Aug 30, the state news agency (WAM) reported on Saturday.

The decision also covered people coming in from countries from which the UAE had previously barred entry, WAM reported.

In those cases, visitors would have to take a Covid-19 test on arrival, it added.

In addition, fully vaccinated tourists can also register their vaccination certificates through the ICA platform or Al Hosn App to enjoy the advantages granted to vaccinated people, according to Gulf News.

This move comes in line with the UAE’s strategy aiming to creating a balance between public health and various vital sectors and will support national efforts being made to achieve sustainable recovery and revive the economic sector.

The tourist visa is granted for either 30 days or 90 days, and usually applies for people who are not eligible for visa-on-arrival in the UAE. On March 21, the UAE Cabinet had also approved a five-year multiple entry tourist visa for all nationalities.

Earlier this month, the UAE had lifted a ban on transit passenger traffic from Pakistan, India, Nigeria and other countries from August 5.

The UAE, a major international travel hub, had banned passengers from many South Asian and African countries for several months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

NCEMA said on Twitter that passengers travelling from countries where flights had been suspended would be able to transit through its airports from Thursday as long as they present negative PCR tests taken 72 hours prior to departure.

Final destination approval would also have to be provided, the authority said, adding that UAE departure airports would arrange separate lounges for transiting passengers.