Already a leading country in the world vaccination race, The UAE is now allowing tourists landing in Abu Dhabi as well as visit visa holders to get vaccinated as long as their visa was issued by Abu Dhabi.
People holding visas issued in other emirates do not qualify at the moment.
Anyone who holds an expired residency or entry visa will also be eligible to get the free vaccination and can choose between Sinopharm or Pfizer depending on availability.
“Yes, holders of valid visit visas and tourists can take vaccines in Abu Dhabi. They can book through the SEHA application,” explained a call centre executive at the Abu Dhabi Services Company (SEHA).
If you’ve already got your first dose in your home country, you’ll be able to get the second in Abu Dhabi. A Canadian tourist who landed in the capital has recently gotten her second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
“I took my first dose of Pfizer vaccine in Toronto. I think on May 22nd. Then I flew down to Abu Dhabi. And I took my second dose here in Abu Dhabi on June 17. I went to a SEHA centre. My passport was stamped. I needed to carry proof of having taken my first dose in Toronto. It was done so that I was given the same dose of the vaccine type. I have got my vaccination card that shows I have both the doses of my Pfizer vaccine,” the tourist told the Khaleej Times.
In order for a tourist or visit visa holder to register on the app, the executive stated “You can put your Unified Number – The UID number on the visa – to register on the app. They can find it in their passports.”
It should be noted that you’ll need to have a local phone number to register on the app. However tourists and visit visa holders can book their appointments by calling 800 50.
These efforts could further boost the tourism sector in the coming months.
Abu Dhabi is also currently running trials on vaccinating children in order to better vaccinate the entire spectrum of the population.
