Covid restrictions may vary by Emirates
From September 28, the UAE officially cancels the mask regime, which was introduced from – due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks will continue to be required only in medical facilities and hospitals, mosques, places of worship and public transport.
The UAE announced Monday, September 26, the easing of covid rules, according to the country's National Emergency Management and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA). The new rules will come into force on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
One of the main innovations is the abolition of the mask regime in the country. Airlines will now be able to decide whether passengers are required to wear masks on board.
Wearing a mask in schools will now also become optional. However, those who are suspected of having an infection will still be required to wear a mask. NCEMA recommends that all people with chronic conditions continue to wear masks. Mosque social distancing rules are also being lifted.
The UAE will also lift any requirement to leave the country, leaving must comply with the rules of the destination country. For arrivals, the rules remain unchanged. A negative PCR test is now required to enter the UAE.
In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, vaccinated travelers will be required to take a test on arrival for a month, and for unvaccinated tourists, it will be valid for 7 days. Previously, unvaccinated tourists had to take a test every 47 hours.
PCR tests in the Emirates themselves are now required only when symptoms appear. Those who have been in contact with patients already infected with COVID-19 will need to undergo a PCR test and be observed for seven days. Those who have been infected with COVID-19 will need to quarantine for five days.
The UAE will now also stop publishing data on daily infections.
Note that covid restrictions may vary in different emirates. For example, to visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, you need a negative test (or vaccination), and in Dubai, all attractions are visited without additional requirements.
Perhaps with the start of the high tourist season (it starts in October) all emirates will relax covid requirements.