The new Al Hosn green pass rules have come into effect in Abu Dhabi.
The status of people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will remain green as long as they have a PCR test once every 30 days.
People who received a second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine more than six months ago must take a booster shot to maintain their green status.
Authorities made the announcement last month and gave a 30-day grace period for people to receive the booster dose by September 20 to prevent their status from turning grey. That deadline expired on Monday.
The green status is required to enter many public places but those with grey status will be excluded.
Security staff at public buildings, shopping centres and restaurants will check that visitors have a green pass.
Unvaccinated people who have not received an official exemption, those who have not had a booster or failed to take a PCR test in the past 30 days will have grey status on the Al Hosn app.
The immunised-only list is made up of all shops, restaurants, cafes, gyms, recreational and sports centres and health clubs.
Resorts, museums, cultural centres and theme parks, plus universities, institutes, public and private schools and children’s nurseries, also appear on the list.
However, the green pass is no longer needed to enter Abu Dhabi from other emirates.
Drivers used to stop at the Ghantoot border to present proof of their virus-free status on Al Hosn, but recent announcements mean commuters can now plot a smooth course for Abu Dhabi without planning PCR tests in advance.
The border between Abu Dhabi and Dubai was closed on June 2, 2020. When it reopened, drivers were allowed to travel freely but were asked to show proof of a recent PCR test to cross into the emirate.
Officials announced on Saturday that the screening protocol would be removed after a welcome fall in infection rates in the capital.
An intensive testing programme and a rapid vaccination drive – allied to the public’s support of existing safety measures, such as the wearing of masks – has buoyed confidence in national efforts to overcome the virus.
More than 19.4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered to the public, with more than 81 per cent of the population fully vaccinated.
The UAE has carried out about 80.7 million PCR tests, with daily testing rates regularly exceeding 300,000.
Abu Dhabi removes PCR test rules for entry from other emirates
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
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• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
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New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
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Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur
Based: Dubai Investment Park 1
Industry: food and agriculture
Initial investment: $205,000
Current staff: eight to 10
Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets
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Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
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