Sports stadiums return to 100 per cent capacity across the UAE

Fans must have green status on Al Hosn app and negative PCR test results

December, 2009: Gerard Pique jumps next to teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Barcelona beat Argentina's Estudiantes 2-1 after extra time at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. AFP

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is challenged by Rodrigo Brana of Estudiantes. AFP

Barcelona's players celebrate after winning the 2009 Fifa Club World Cup at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. AFP

December 2010: Inter Milan on their way to a 3-0 victory over Congo's TP Mazembe. Action Images

Samuel Eto'o celebrates after scoring Inter Milan's second goal. Action Images

December 2017: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo curls the ball over the Gremio wall to score from a free-kick during their 1-0 win at Zayed Sports City Stadium. AFP

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos challenges for the ball with Gremio's Brazilian forward Jael. AFP

Real Madrid's Marcelo, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos celebrate with the Fifa Club World Cup trophy. AFP

December 2018: Al Ain defender Ismail Ahmed (R) battles for the ball with Real Madrid's Gareth Bale during the Fifa Club World Cup final. Real won 4-1. AFP

Defender Sergio Ramos (R) celebrates after scoring against Abu Dhabi's Al Ain. AFP

Al Ain midfielder Mohamed Abdulrahman (C-R) fights for the ball with Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo. AFP

Marcelo celebrates after winning the Fifa Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi. AFP

Stadiums will no longer have to limit the number of spectators at football matches and other events, the UAE Football Association has said.

Capacity has been increased to 100 per cent, but entry will only be allowed to people aged 12 and over who have a green status on the Al Hosn app.

Spectators must also provide proof they have received a negative PCR test result in the past 96 hours.

The decision was reached after consultation between the UAEFA and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, state news agency Wam said.

The announcement came after a day after Abu Dhabi hosted the Club World Cup.

On Tuesday, February 15, cinemas can return to 100 per cent capacity for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

At the start of the pandemic, cinemas across the country were closed to help stop the spread of the virus.

Rashid Al Nuaimi, executive director of the Media Regulatory Office of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, said the UAE had handled the crisis well.

“The decision to raise capacity in cinemas follows the success of the efforts of the UAE government agencies in combating the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

There is no change to the use of masks, which are required by law in all indoor and outdoor public places nationwide.

The directives are in line with a government announcement last week to allow a number of venues and event to operate at full occupancy by the middle of February.

Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, official spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, said the easing of restrictions related to “various economic, tourist and recreational facilities, shopping centres and means of transportation”.

Dr Al Dhaheri said individual emirates would to allowed to set capacity limits for weddings and funerals during the country's weekly coronavirus briefing on Wednesday.

The minimum social distancing required at mosques will be reduced to one metre under the plans.

Dr Al Dhaheri said this measure could be removed if cases continue to drop.

Authorities will continue to monitor Covid-19 infections throughout the country and safety regulations could be tightened as well as relaxed if necessary.

Dr Al Dhaheri praised the public for their support of safety measures and said such rules had played a pivotal role in curbing the spread of the virus.

The easing of Covid-19 restrictions comes amid a steady fall in daily cases.

The UAE recorded 1,191 infections on Monday, down from 3,116 on January 15.

It is the lowest daily total since December 23.