France recently introduced new Covid-19 safety measures requiring its residents and tourists to prove they are vaccinated or have received a negative test for the virus to gain entry to a number of public venues such as restaurants and cafes.
People must upload their vaccine certificates or negative test results - taken within the previous 48 hours - to the TousAntiCovid app, which now acts as a health pass.
The pass also covers non-emergency hospital visits, the use of train services and cinemas, concert halls, sports arenas and theme parks.
Those fully vaccinated have to show proof of having one of the jabs recognised by the European Medicines Agency, or equivalent.
In order to facilitate the stay of non-EU tourists in France, such as those from the UAE, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs set up a mechanism for issuing a Covid-19 vaccine certificate of equivalence, which is valid on French territory.
French officials said priority will initially be given to tourists who are already in France or who will be arriving by August 15.
Requests received by people arriving after this date will be considered later.
As yet, people who have received vaccines that are not on the list, including Sinopharm, cannot apply for the service.
Here, The National has put together a guide on how UAE tourists can get a Covid-19 vaccine QR code recognised in France.
Who can apply?
You can apply for a Covid-19 vaccine certificate of equivalence if you meet the following conditions:
- You are from a country which is not a member of the European Union
- You are aged 18 and over (under 18s will not need a health pass until September 30, while under 12s are exempt from the requirement altogether)
- You are already in France or the European Union or you intend going there within the coming days
- You have been vaccinated with a vaccine which is accepted by the European Medicines Agency or an equivalent (including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson&Johnson)
To be eligible, people must have received their second dose of Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca at least seven days prior.
The duration is extended to four weeks for the single-dose Johnson&Johnson jab.
The period is seven days, with only one dose required of any of the approved vaccines, if you have previously recovered from Covid-19.
How can I apply?
Prepare the following documents in electronic format and email them to area3.covid-pass@diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Compete application form here
- Your vaccination certificate, drawn up according to the rules of the country of vaccination, and clearly stating the type of vaccine used
- Your passport
- Your travel ticket (return ticket)
- Documents must be sent in .pdf, .jpg or .png format
To ensure the processing of applications, e-mail subject lines must be set out as follows:
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE / SURNAME First name / Date of arrival in France in the format DD-MM-YY.
Each person travelling must complete and sign the form individually, provide the supporting documents and send the application in a separate e-mail.
Applications will be processed as quickly as possible, however no specific turnaround time has been stated.
If you do not receive your QR code for the vaccine certificate of equivalence in time to visit certain locations, a temporary QR code can also be generated by a healthcare professional following a negative PCR or antigen test taken within the last 72 hours in France.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
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Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
