Abu Dhabi travel
Information
Find out everything you need to know about flying to Abu Dhabi, including testing, transit and quarantine information. View the latest Green list and travel corridor countries, and read more about registering via the ICA Smart Travel Service before you fly.
Always check the latest travel regulations before you fly.
You can fly to Abu Dhabi if you are a UAE national, or a UAE resident registered with ICA, you are eligible for a visa on arrival, or you hold a pre-arranged visa issued from any emirate in the UAE.
Following government directives, you must register via the ICA Smart Travel Service before your flight. This applies to adults and children/infants and if you are travelling to Dubai or another emirate.
This does not apply if you are a UAE national or are transiting in Abu Dhabi.
Vaccination is not a condition of entry to Abu Dhabi but you will need it to move freely about the city.
Register via the ICA Smart Travel Service before your flight – this does not apply to UAE nationals or transit guests.
Take a COVID-19 PCR test before you fly to Abu Dhabi. The time you take your test will depend on where you’re travelling from.
Download the UAE Al Hosn app – you’ll need this when you arrive.
If you’ve been fully vaccinated or are travelling from a Green list country, you will not need to quarantine. Read more below.
You must register via the ICA Smart Travel Service and obtain a QR code before you fly, even if you are travelling to Dubai or another emirate.
If you have been fully vaccinated in the UAE:
If you’ve been fully vaccinated outside the UAE:
If you have not been vaccinated:
You will only be able to enter public places in Abu Dhabi if you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have green status in the Al Hosn app.
For green status:
* You can obtain your UID number after entering the UAE using your passport number on the ICA site. Simply search by ‘Passport Information’.
Read more on COVID-safe travel to and from Abu Dhabi.
You won’t need to quarantine when you arrive in Abu Dhabi if you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or you’re travelling from a Green list country.
To be fully vaccinated, you must have received two doses of the same vaccine, or one dose of Janssen, at least 14 days before departure.
If you have not been vaccinated, you will be required to quarantine for 10 days. If you are travelling from a country deemed to be high-risk, you will be subject to quarantine at a government facility.
Vaccination status
Travelling from
Quarantine
COVID-19 PCR test
*Vaccinated
Green list country
No quarantine
Test on arrival and day six
Any other destination
Test on arrival, day four and day eight
Not vaccinated
Test on arrival, day six and day nine
10 days
Test on arrival and day nine
*To be fully vaccinated, you must have received two doses of the same vaccine, or one dose of Jannsen, at least 14 days before departure.
Read more below or in our comprehensive travel guides before you fly.
You won’t need to quarantine if you’re travelling on a direct flight to Abu Dhabi from any of the countries below.
Etihad green destinations:
If you have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you will not be required to quarantine when you travel between the UAE and the following destinations:
We’ll make your connection as smooth and comfortable as possible.
Our Business Lounge and GoSleep sleeping pods are open in Terminal 3, as well as the Al Dhabi lounge and Aerotel Abu Dhabi in Terminal 1. A range of food and beverage outlets and Duty Free stores are open, all with carefully considered safety measures to keep you protected.
You can even stay connected with free Wi-Fi and mobile charging points throughout the airport.
Remember, you need to have a COVID-19 PCR test before you fly to Abu Dhabi, even if you are just transiting. Visit etihad.com/destinationguide and enter your final destination to find out where and when to take your test.
For new bookings, the maximum connection time in Abu Dhabi is 12 hours.
We’ve made it even easier to travel to Dubai when you fly to Abu Dhabi, with complimentary transfer services and discounted COVID-19 PCR testing.
Learn more about travelling to Dubai and other emirates.
You can fly with confidence knowing that every guest on board has tested negative for COVID-19. It's just one of the ways we’re keeping you protected with Etihad Wellness.
COVID-19 PCR testing is available across the UAE. Call G42 on +971 2 205 5999 for Abu Dhabi or visit lifedx.net/etihad to book at a LifeDx clinic.
Send us your COVID-19 travel documents now and fast track to our Verified to Fly desks at the airport.
Get Verified to Fly
Register via the ICA Smart Travel Service before your flight – some exemptions apply
You must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test to fly
Online check-in opens 30 hours before your flight
Airport check-in opens 3 hours before your flight
See the recommended check-in times with the Abu Dhabi International Airport check-in portal
On board, food and drinks will be served in line with COVID-19 guidelines
All of our crew and pilots on board are vaccinated
Always check the latest travel regulations before you fly
You must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result before every Etihad Airways flight.
If you’re flying to Abu Dhabi as your final destination, take your test 48 hours before your flight departure time. Some exemptions apply.
For all other destinations, your test must be carried out 48 or 72 hours ahead of your flight departure time. This will depend on where you’re flying to or from and your transit time.
Read more at etihad.com/destinationguide. Always check the requirements at both your departure and arrival city by selecting the ‘Flying to’ and ‘Flying from’ tabs.
That depends on where you’re flying to. In a lot of cases, children up to a certain age will be required to have a test before they fly.
You’ll find more information at etihad.com/destinationguide.
Yes. We’re conducting COVID-19 rapid testing in Abu Dhabi airport. Tests cost USD 50 (subject to exchange rate) and you will need to pay for your test when you check-in. Transit testing is currently not available if you are flying from Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, we are working on a solution to this with the authorities.
No, you must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result before every Etihad Airways flight.
Find out when to take your test at etihad.com/destinationguide.
You can take your COVID-19 PCR test at any accredited medical facility.
If you are travelling to China, you must take your test at one of the G42 clinics listed below:
Tests from other medical facilities will not be accepted. Call +971 52 688 4846 or +971 2 2055 999 to book.
No you don’t. You can travel to Dubai by any means of transport. If you were to choose to stay in Abu Dhabi, you would only need to quarantine if you were not vaccinated and not arriving from a green list country.
We’ll always do our best to make sure that you are seated with your family. The best way to guarantee the seats you’d like is to book them in advance.
Read more about our seat choices
You’ll always find the most up to date travel information – including testing and quarantine requirements – at etihad.com/destinationguide.
Use the ‘Flying to’ and ‘Flying from’ tabs to check the regulations at both your city of departure and arrival.
Yes! We’re proud to be the first airline in the world to vaccinate all pilots and cabin crew on board against COVID-19. It’s just one of the ways we’re keeping you protected with Etihad Wellness.
Etihad Wellness
To keep everyone protected on board, you must have a COVID-19 PCR test before every Etihad Airways flight.
You can pay to print personal documents, like your PCR test result, at selected airports. Please note that printing facilities are not available at every airport.
If you are flying to Abu Dhabi, you must register via the ICA Smart Travel Service. This applies to adults and children/infants and if you are travelling to Dubai or another emirate.
We work with a network of partners to offer you optional services that make your journey with us even better. When you click a link from one of our partners:
