Author: Louise Pieterse
Last update: December 16th, 2021.
Countries in the Middle East are acting fast to implement a vaccination passport and an Emirati vaccine pass might be next.
The United Arab Emirates has announced that they are in discussions about implementing a UAE coronavirus passport, which would pose restrictions on unvaccinated citizens.
Is the UAE going to launch a COVID health pass?
The UAE has already been using the Al Hosn app for contact tracing and monitoring the coronavirus status of individuals. They are now in talks to implement stricter measures to limit people’s mobility if they have not been vaccinated.
“With an increasing spread of the virus, vaccination is no more an option but a must-have,” said associate professor of finance Arindam Banerjee.
“The UAE, which is considered to be a melting pot of over 200 nationalities, can protect the safety and security of its people by mandating vaccination. This will restore the confidence back in people by ensuring safety and will soon bring normalcy in life,” expressed Dr. Banerjee.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) stated in a tweet in April that “strict measures are being considered to restrict the movement of unvaccinated individuals and to implement preventive measures such as restricting entry to some places and having access to some services, to ensure the health and safety of everyone.”
A COVID health pass can be one such measure aimed at keeping citizens safe and motivating Emiratis to get vaccinated.
Emirates and Etihad with the IATA app in use
The International Air Transport Association has created an app that is free to use in an effort to streamline the verification process. The IATA Travel Pass app is an interoperable tool that can be used by governments, airlines, laboratories, and travelers to provide necessary COVID-related information.
The two national airlines of the UAE, Emirates and Etihad, have started to implement the app on selected routes to test the efficacy and feasibility of its structure.
Data protection is the number one priority for COVID-19 app developers, and blockchain technology has proven to be the most reliable mode of security. The apps only carry basic information such as name, the vaccine received, and the date of vaccination.
This certification is aiming to restore international travel to an effective degree but also open public services to citizens on the ground level.
Dr. Vikas Nand Kumar Batheja is the co-founder and director of Capital University College and wholeheartedly supports such an initiative.
“I am certain [Emirati] residents who have been part of the vaccination program will be able to enjoy various long-term benefits including a potential quarantine-free travel to low-risk countries, attaining vaccine passports, and preventing the overwhelming feeling of getting routine checkups which I am sure can be both emotionally and financially draining.”
Emirati government & private sector trying to encourage vaccinations
The UAE is fortunate enough to be able to provide vaccines to almost all its citizens, but there are still concerns about discrimination. The Emirati government has made provisions for individuals who are not able to get vaccinated.
Pregnant women, people suffering from epilepsy or convulsions, patients with mental illness or encephalopathy, and coagulation dysfunction will not be eligible for the vaccination but will not be excluded from privileges awarded to vaccinated individuals.
Seven of the country’s most elite gymnasiums have opened their doors to vaccinated people looking to get fit: Zabeel Ladies Club, Just Play, Gold’s Gym, The Warehouse, Fitness First, Fitness 360, and The Sevens.
The council said that “the pioneering initiative has been launched to encourage members of the community to embrace a physically active lifestyle, through proper guidance from some of the fitness industry’s biggest names. The initiative also rewards all the members of the community who have received their full dose of COVID-19 vaccines.”
The UAE health certificate: an international perspective
Bahrain, which is part of the GCC together with the UAE and 5 other countries, was also one of the first nations in the world to launch its passport program.
Leading the charge in the Middle East is Israel with one of the most successful vaccination campaigns and certification programs in the world.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is still in talks on whether or not to implement a gulf-wide system of regulation but countries are still continuing with their own implementation until a consensus has been reached.
EU COVID Certificate for Emirati citizens
The UAE have joined the EU COVID Certificate (EUDCC) program, meaning that UAE vaccine certificates are recognized in the EU and the EUDCC is recognized in the UAE.
Over 45 countries worldwide use the EU Gateway in order to mutually recognize proof of vaccination across borders. A complete guide to the EUDCC is available on CovidPassCertificate.com.
UAE vaccination statistics
The United Arab Emirates have seen more than 724,000 positive COVID cases by September 2021. Remarkably, they have had just over 2,000 deaths, no doubt thanks to their state-of-the-art medical facilities and strict lockdown measures.
They reached their peak infection rate by the end of January but their new daily reported cases have been steadily declining and have more than halved by September.
Their vaccination rollout has been swift. Sinopharm was the first jab to be administered. In April, the Pfizer vaccine also became available.
Vaccination numbers in the UAE are some of the best in the world and nearly 80% of the population is fully vaccinated. They have passed the 18,000,000 doses mark and are continuing at a steady pace.