From Monday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will resume issuing tourists visas for those who have been fully vaccinate against COVID-19 and who test negative upon arrival.
The country’s decision to start allowing tourists again was taken in order to “achieve sustainable recovery and economic growth,” the WAM new agency reported.
To be eligible, travellers need to have been fully inoculated with any of the COVIFD-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation: AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Sinopharm and Sinovac.
"The decision applies to citizens of all countries, including those arriving from previously banned countries," WAM said.
"Passengers arriving on tourist visas must take a mandatory PCR test at the airport," it added.
Different emirates have reopened at different stages of the pandemic. But for Dubai, with the Expo 2020 scheduled to begin on October 1, its promise of a nearly $40 billion injection into the economy necessitates some reopening of the country’s borders to the world.
Last week, the UAE reported fewer than 1,000 daily new infections fro the first time in months. However, Dubai authorities recently said that those who had received the Sinopharm vaccine should receive a booster shot as well.
