ABU DHABI: UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) have jointly announced that starting today, August 30, application for tourist visas will be open to people from all countries, including Pakistan provided that they are fully vaccinated with one of the WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines.
This comes as part of the country’s strategy to create a balance between public health and the activities of vital sectors, and in support of the national efforts to achieve sustainable recovery and economic growth, said a Wam news agency report.
The decision applies to citizens of all countries, including those arriving from the previously banned countries. Arriving passengers on a tourist visa must take a mandatory rapid PCR test at the airport. The previous rules for unvaccinated, including exempted categories, remain in place.
In addition, fully vaccinated tourists can also register their vaccination certificates through the ICA platform or Al Hosn App to enjoy the advantages granted to vaccinated people, according to Gulf News.
The tourist visa is granted for either 30 days or 90 days and usually applies to people who are not eligible for visa-on-arrival in the UAE. On March 21, the UAE Cabinet had also approved five-year multiple-entry tourist visas for all nationalities.