This archive report was first published on 29 August 2021.
On August 29, 2021, the United Arab Emirates made a significant announcement regarding its tourism policies. The country will resume issuing visas to all tourists who are fully vaccinated against Covid, effective from Monday.
This decision comes as the UAE has seen a decline in coronavirus infections, with less than 1,000 cases reported per day last week. The move is seen as a step towards achieving sustainable recovery and economic growth, according to the official WAM news agency.
Eligible tourists will need to be fully inoculated with one of the Covid-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization, which include AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.
Passengers arriving on tourist visas will be required to take a mandatory PCR test at the airport. The UAE is made up of seven emirates, including the capital Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which has been heavily reliant on tourism.
While life in the country has largely returned to normal, the UAE continues to enforce strict rules on wearing masks and social distancing. The decision to reopen its doors to tourists comes ahead of the delayed Expo 2020 trade fair, which is set to open in October.
