ABU DHABI — Citizens and residents in the United Arab Emirates are now allowed to travel abroad in accordance with the effective precautionary measures at the country's airports due to coronavirus and in line with the requirements of destination countries, the state news agency WAM reported on Friday. However, they can only travel to the destinations where the country's national carriers are operating flights and need to follow precautionary measures undertaken by the competent health authorities on return. In a joint statement, the UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) said that UAE citizens and residents can now travel to destinations where the national carriers are operating flights to according to a classification adopted based on a methodology followed in distributing countries based on several health criteria. The statement added that health protocols for travel will be enforced at the country's airports under the current conditions, which is dependent upon a number of major factors, such as public health, required checks from destination countries and on return, as well as quarantine, and self-monitoring of the health of the passenger, in addition to having awareness of precautions. The statement stressed that compulsory requirements must be adhered to by citizens and residents before departure and on return from travel destinations which are as follows: — Register with the "My presence" service to facilitate communication with them during travel "limited to citizens only". — In addition to conducting a COVID-10 examination 19 before travel, depending on the health regulations in the desired destination, which may require a recent result not exceeding 48 hours from the date of travel. — The test result should be presented through the application of the fort or highlighting that it is free of the virus for the concerned authorities at the country's airports. — Travel will only be permitted if the result of the examination is negative for the traveler and to obtain international health insurance with the traveler, which is valid throughout the period of travel, and covers the desired destination. The statement also stressed that the return of residents also requires no violation or inconsistency with the declared procedures and requirements that regulate all issues and requirements of return, the most important of which is the pre-examination in countries where laboratories are available. The statement advised people over the age of 70 and those with chronic diseases not to travel in order to preserve their safety.
