Etihad Airways is prepared for a boost in travel to and from Abu Dhabi following the government’s announcement to remove the quarantine requirement for all vaccinated travelers arriving from abroad.

“The news is perfectly timed to begin welcoming the world back to Abu Dhabi. We expect a huge surge in demand from tourists and visiting friends and relatives from around the world. This will also give UAE residents greater flexibility and peace of mind when travelling globally,” said Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer, Etihad. “The emirate has delivered one of the world’s best public health programmes to protect the population with an extremely high vaccination rate, and smart technologically-driven solutions such as the Al Hosn app to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. This is a huge step forward as the UAE prepares to host the EXPO 2020, the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and many more global events over the coming months. Etihad is currently operating to 65 passenger destinations with one of the world’s youngest and most sustainable fleets. We look forward to welcoming our guests to Abu Dhabi with Etihad to enjoy this world-class destination — an emirate and capital city we’re so proud to call our home.”

Fully vaccinated travelers can arrive to Abu Dhabi from all international destinations without the need to quarantine. Travelers do need to present a PCR test within 48 hours of departure, take a test upon arrival and retest on select days depending on their country of origin.

The Etihad Wellness program requires 100 percent of passengers to show a negative PCR test before boarding, and implemented extensive sanitation practices, including at catering, aircraft and cabin deep cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, crew interaction, ground transportation and more. Passengers are also required to wear a face mask throughout the flight journey.