Do residents of Dubai need approval from the GDRFA or ICA in order to visit Abu Dhabi?

Are you a UAE resident with a visa issued by another country, but planning to fly into Abu Dhabi International Airport? Do you know which approval you might need – the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICA) or General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)?

The official website of Etihad Airways states that UAE residents arriving at Abu Dhabi Airport must register with the ICA Smart Travel Service before flying. Etihad Airways has provided guidelines for unvaccinated and vaccinated UAE residents flying into Abu Dhabi.

Checklist for flying to Abu Dhabi Airport

The following requirements must be met before you book your flight to Abu Dhabi, according to Etihad Airways:

1. You can obtain a QR code or SMS for travel by registering with the ICA Smart Travel Service. QR codes and SMS are essential for traveling to Abu Dhabi and must be presented to the appropriate authorities.
2. You should take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before you fly to Abu Dhabi.
3. When you arrive, you will need the UAE Al Hosn app.

ICA Smart Travel Services: How do one register?

Travel Smart Service is an online application that registers arrivals and attests to their vaccination certificates. To receive ICA’s approval, both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers must fill out this form. For those who have received their vaccination outside the UAE, this registration process needs to be completed five days before their flight. Register vaccination certificates issued in another country on Al Hosn.

To register with ICA Smart Travel Services, follow these steps:

You must have been immunized with the following vaccines, which have been approved in the UAE, in order for your application to be accepted:

• Sinopharm
• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Sputnik
• Oxford-Astrazeneca
• Johnson & Johnson
• Moderna

In case you were vaccinated outside the UAE, your vaccination certificate must meet the following requirements:

• The certificate should include personal data.
• Clearly indicate the name of the vaccine and the date of the dose on the certificate.
• Validate the QR code on the vaccination certificate.

Once you have received the approved COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE and have a valid vaccination certificate, visit the following link: 

https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/registerArrivals

Complete the online application form for ICA Smart Travel Services:

Applicant information:

• Nationality
• Full Name (English)
• (Once you type your name in English, your full name in Arabic will automatically appear.)
• Gender
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Email address – The QR code will be sent to your email
• Mobile Number

Passport Information:

• Type of passport (ordinary, diplomatic, etc.)
• Passport No
• Passport Issue Date
• Passport Expiry Date

Arrival information:

• Expected Arrival Date
• Arrival Port
• Departure Country

Address inside the UAE:

• Emirate
• Detailed Address

Vaccine information:

• Vaccine Country
• Vaccination Type
• First Vaccination Dose Date
• Second Vaccination Dose Date
• Third Vaccination Dose Date – If you have received a booster

Attachments info:

• Passport Image
• The personal image. A photo must have a minimum dimension of 600×600 pixels and a maximum dimension of 1200×1200 pixels, in a square aspect ratio. The resolution should be 96 dpi (dots per inch).
• PCR Test Result (Optional)
• Covid-19 Vaccination Card (Optional)

Final steps:

Having filled out the required information and uploaded the required documents, tick the box under the ‘Declaration’ category and click ‘Send’.

• The medical committee reviewing the application has the right to reject it or request additional information.

In most cases, the medical committee will complete and review the application within 48 hours.

In Abu Dhabi, what are the COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules?

The Abu Dhabi International Airport requires all passengers to present a negative PCR test within 48 hours of their flight’s departure time. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from COVID-19 testing.

If you are coming from a country on the Green List:

• After baggage collection at Abu Dhabi airport, a PCR test will be conducted.
•  You will not need to quarantine.
• On Day 6, you will undergo another PCR test. You will have to undergo another test on Day 9 if you are unvaccinated.
• If you are traveling from a destination that isn’t on the Green list:
• Upon arrival at Abu Dhabi airport, after baggage collection, a PCR test will be conducted.
• If you are vaccinated, you will not have to quarantine. If you are not vaccinated, you will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine.
• Vaccinated individuals will undergo two PCR tests, one on Day 4 and the other on Day 8. Unvaccinated individuals will undergo a test on Day 9 (while they are under a 10-day quarantine).

In what way does a country make the Green list?

Quarantine is not required for passengers arriving from countries on the Green List. The Abu Dhabi Media Office said that countries, regions, and territories on the ‘Green List’ are regularly updated in light of international developments.

On the Green List are the countries from which you are traveling as a passenger, not necessarily the countries from which you are citizens.

Abu Dhabi’s Green List includes more than 70 countries. The list includes countries such as Azerbaijan, Canada, Bahrain, and Denmark.