The United Arab Emirates has started accepting tourist visa applications for prospective visitors from all countries. The main requirement that must be adhered to is the applicant being fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and it being done with a vaccine that the World Health Organization has approved. These include AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac and Sinopharm.
The intent of this development, according to the Emirates News Agency, is to create a balance between public health and “the national efforts to achieve sustainable recovery and economic growth.” Also of note is that the World Expo 2020 is set to open hereafter roughly a year’s delay on Oct. 1; it runs through March 31.
The country has experienced a recent drop in COVID-19 infections, recording less than a thousand confirmed new cases a day last week for the first time in months. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s most vaccinated countries. As of Saturday, 76% of its populace had been fully vaccinated with an additional 11% partially vaccinated.
Another requirement that those who are approved for this tourist visa must follow is the taking of a rapid PCR test at the airport upon arrival in the United Arab Emirates. The Al Hosn app should be downloaded and utilized as well.
Those who are not fully vaccinated might still be eligible to enter the country. The entry rules that had existed prior to this latest development apply to unvaccinated individuals.
For example, unvaccinated Americans can still enter as long as they have a negative COVID-19 test result that had been taken within the 72 hours immediately prior to their flight’s departure. However, unvaccinated people from some other countries such as India, Pakistan, Vietnam and Nigeria may not enter under nearly all circumstances.
Tourists who do make a trip to the United Arab Emirates should be ready to adhere to its strict mask-wearing and social-distancing rules.