According to the security guidance of the General Civil Aviation Council on 29 April 2020, passengers can carry hand sanitiser liquid of up to 250ml in a container.

Arriving passengers from visa-free countries and those arriving from high-risk countries will be subject to advanced PCR testing at the airport. Following testing, passengers will be required to self-isolate for four days. After the four-day isolation period, passengers will be required to undertake a secondary PCR test to check for a COVID-19 infection. In addition to the tests, incoming passengers are required to self-quarantine for 14 days following their arrival in the UAE.

Hand sanitizes have been installed across all the airport facilities, including Terminal buildings.

As part of the precautionary and preventive measures adopted by the UAE to contain the spread of COVID-19, the UAE authorities have suspended the issuance of entry visas. Moreover, all commercial passenger flights to and from the UAE have been suspended since 26 March 2020.

Despite the passenger flight suspension, Abu Dhabi International Airport has facilitated a number of repatriation and humanitarian flights for Emiratis returning to the UAE as well as expatriates and foreign nationals departing for their countries of origin.

We are coordinating and collaborating with all relevant authorities including the Abu Dhabi Government, General Civil Aviation Authority, Department of Health (DoH), and Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) to ensure every available precautionary measure is being taken to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of employees, stakeholders and passengers.

We have taken a series of comprehensive precautionary measures across our facilities, where all incoming passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport, as well as employees, will undergo the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Other measures include the deployment of advanced sterilisation technologies to clean common areas, the enforcement of social distancing guidelines, workforce cluster management, and thermal screening.

The cleaning services have been intensified across the airport facilities and workplaces. The disinfection schedule of offices, floors, counter surfaces, washrooms, prayer rooms, parking areas, smoking areas, and additional spaces has been accelerated particularly following peak travel hours. Aircraft arriving and departing from Abu Dhabi International Airport are also undergoing thorough disinfectant cleansing as an added precaution.

Moreover, Abu Dhabi Airports has partnered with Tawazun Strategic Development Fund (TSDF) to launch the new CoDi BOT UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle), for the disinfection of viruses including COVID-19. CoDi BOT UGV will be piloted from May throughout Abu Dhabi International Airport, where it will be targeting virus strains on surfaces with controlled bursts of UV rays, screening individuals through thermal infrared monitoring, and disinfecting areas using liquid cleaning agents.

Abu Dhabi Airports has also commenced the deployment of SterixGates, designed and manufactured by UAE-based company SterixEco, across key entrances and exits at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The contactless gates operate by first scanning the body temperature of a person upon their entrance into the gate and alerting relevant parties if the occupant has a higher than normal temperature. After the temperature test, a full disinfection of the occupant begins using SterixEco’s safe and internationally accredited disinfectant liquid. The liquid is dispersed in a fog-like manner, sanitizing a person from head-to-toe in as little as three seconds. The alcohol-free disinfectant liquid kills over 99.9% of all germs and viruses, including COVID-19.

For more information about the directives issued by UAE Authorities:

Please click here to be directed to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) page.

Please click here to be directed to the Department of Health- Abu Dhabi (DoH) page.

Please click here to be directed to Dubai Health Authority (DHA) page.

Abu Dhabi International Airport is ensuring a safe, secure and efficient transport of essential supplies and equipment through Abu Dhabi International Airport, in addition to facilitating a number of repatriation and humanitarian flights, while implementing comprehensive health and safety measures across the airport.

Cargo and airfreight

Cargo operations at the airport are ongoing, facilitating the supply of vital equipment and goods to communities and healthcare facilities across the UAE and the world. Moreover, logistics operators and cargo carriers such as Etihad Cargo have increased operations, making use of available capacity during the airport’s reduced passenger flight schedule.

Repatriation and humanitarian flights

Following the suspension of all commercial passenger flights to and from the UAE on 26 March 2020, Abu Dhabi International Airport has facilitated a number of repatriation and humanitarian flights for Emiratis returning to the UAE, expatriates and foreign nationals departing for their countries of origin, and UAE residents returning from abroad to the UAE. In addition to enabling passengers reach their desired destinations, the flights are utilising their belly-hold capacity to transport critical cargo.

Hotel accommodation at Abu Dhabi International Airport is only available for stranded passengers.

Taxis and buses are in operation at present.

If any passenger shows symptoms in line with COVID-19, they must follow the below measures as a priority:

• Notify the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) by dialling 800 11111
• Follow the Department of Health’s (DoH) advice regarding quarantine and other measures.

1. Self-isolation while waiting for the PCR test results
2. If the test is positive, a team from the DoH will contact the passenger to start the treatment.
3. If the test is negative, the passenger will still have to self-quarantine for 14 days.

For more details, please click here.

There are no restrictions imposed for cargo transportation so far.

Custom procedures are currently the same, expect that officers are wearing PPE, including face masks and disposable gloves, when conducting a hand search.

Abu Dhabi International Airport’s VIP lounges are in normal operation, but robust precautionary measures are put in place in the facility. These include the application of intensified cleaning and disinfecting services across the lounge, the deployment of advanced sterilisation technologies across the lounge, the enforcement of social distancing guidelines, workforce cluster management, and thermal screening.

As per the UAE government’s most recent directives that restaurants across Abu Dhabi are allowed to re-open for dine-in guests, restaurants and cafes in the Terminal buildings are open, but with enhanced safety measures in place. These measures include the below:

• Capacity cannot exceed 30 per cent and payment can only be made electronically.
• Staff and customers must wear masks and gloves and disinfectants must be used frequently.
• People over the age of 60 and younger than 12 are prohibited from entering.
• Up to two people only are allowed to be seated at each table, which must be distanced at least 2.5 metres apart.
• Outlets must only serve food and drink using disposable cutlery, and hand sanitiser dispensers must be put up.

Smoking in the Terminal Building is not allowed. The designated smoking lounges are currently closed due to COVID-19 prevention measures.

Ιf you wish to cancel your reservation and get a refund, please email cs.uae@mawqif.com or dial +971 2 5052528.

For any updates on flight status, please click here or contact your airline directly.