Abu Dhabi movement ban: residents may now leave without permit

Those who wish to return to Abu Dhabi must first obtain a permit and will be subject to 'precautionary health measures'

A police checkpoint on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border in 2020. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Police

Congestion at the border into Abu Dhabi from Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road as police check motorists for permits. A ban on travel in and out of Abu Dhabi began on June 2. Pawan Singh / The National

Officers check motorists for travel permits as they enter Abu Dhabi from Dubai. Courtesy: AD Police

A picture taken with a drone shows cars queueing before a security checkpoint on the E11 highway, between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. EPA

A picture taken with a drone shows cars queuing before a security checkpoint on the E11 highway, between Dubai and Abu Dhabi on June 6. EPA

A picture taken with a drone shows cars queueing before a security checkpoint on the E11 highway, between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. EPA

Traffic builds up on Sheikh Zayed Road as police check motorists for movement permits to enter Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Tailbacks on Sheikh Zayed Road as motorists wait to enter Abu Dhabi while police check for movement permits. Pawan Singh / The National

Police check motorists for permits to travel in Abu Dhabi from Dubai as a temporary movement ban comes into force. Pawan Singh / The National

Traffic builds up on Sheikh Zayed Road as police check motorists for movement permits to enter Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Tailbacks on Sheikh Zayed Road as motorists wait to enter Abu Dhabi while police check for movement permits. Pawan Singh / The National

Traffic builds up on Sheikh Zayed Road as police check motorists for movement permits to enter Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Residents of Abu Dhabi can now leave the capital without a permit but will require one to re-enter, authorities announced on Tuesday.

Under the new rules, those who leave Abu Dhabi emirate will be allowed to return only after applying for a permit and precautionary health measures will apply on entry.

On Tuesday, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee for the Covid-19 Pandemic said movement between Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra will remain restricted unless the traveller obtains a permit using the police portal before the journey.

The committee repeated that any travel within the emirate must occur between 6am and 10pm, to allow for the national disinfection programme that is carried out each night.

Moving workers into and out of Abu Dhabi emirate and between its regions remains restricted.

On Monday, it was announced that the restriction on movement in Abu Dhabi was extended for another week, until June 23.

The travel restriction, which began on June 2, was brought in to ensure Abu Dhabi's major testing drive worked effectively in containing the spread of Covid-19.

“This step aims to enhance the effectiveness of the expanded National Screening Programme, which tested more than 388,000 people in the past two weeks, among precautionary and preventive measures being taken to curb the spread of Covid-19,” Abu Dhabi Media Office tweeted on Monday.

Residents of Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain and Al Dhafra can travel within their cities but not enter or leave them without a permit.

The measure does not stop people leaving their homes, other than during the disinfection hours of 10pm to 6am.

Those working in vital sectors, air passengers and other people with special circumstances can seek exemption.

Sheikh Abdulla Al Hamed, chairman of Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, previously said the decision on the initial one-week ban came as the emirate stepped up its testing drive in densely populated areas.

Officials in the emirate are screening all workers living in Mussaffah, an industrial area on the outskirts of the capital, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Apply for a travel permit here: https://es.adpolice.gov.ae/en/movepermit