Will Sinopharm be accepted for UK-UAE travellers?

Travellers from the Emirates will be exempt from UK quarantine by next month

Abdulaziz Karmastaji receives his vaccine at the Seha vaccination centre at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal area. Victor Besa / The National

Shaikha Al Dheiri waits to be inoculated at the Seha vaccination centre at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal area. Victor Besa / The National

Ambulatory Healthcare Services launched a child vaccination drive-through service at several healthcare centres in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Photo: Wam

Churchgoers and residents wait to receive a Covid-19 vaccine dose at St Joseph Church, Abu Dhabi. Photo: St Joseph Church

Churchgoers in Abu Dhabi register to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Photo: St Joseph Church

Shenaz Abdul Salam receives a shot at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through service centre at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Residents wait at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through service centre at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Aysha Ali receives the first of her Sinopharm vaccine doses at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Seha staff and nurses at the Covid-19 drive-through centre, Corniche Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

An Abu Dhabi resident queues at the Seha drive-through centre at the Corniche. Victor Besa / The National

Residents wait to be vaccinated at the Seha Covid-19 centre at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Travellers from the UAE who have received the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine will not presently qualify for the UK’s latest relaxation of travel rules.

In an announcement on Friday that UAE travellers would be exempt from UK quarantine next month, the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, stated travellers would need to be double vaccinated with an “authorised and approved” vaccine.

The UK’s official vaccine list, released on Friday, stated the vaccines approved for entry are those of AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen.

The National has asked the Foreign Office and the Department of Health and Social Care to comment on the situation.

James Cleverly, Minister for Middle East and North Africa at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has said the UK is working with the UAE.

“Delighted that international travel is opening up,” he tweeted.

“We are finalising arrangements with UAE to include their nationals and residents in our plans to open up to the fully vaccinated from other countries from October 4.”

Earlier on Friday, Mr Shapps said fully vaccinated people travelling from a non-red country would no longer need to take a PCR test after arrival.

“We’re making testing easier for travel From Mon 4 Oct, if you’re fully vax you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow,” he tweeted.

Travellers who have a valid vaccination certificate from any of 17 countries and territories will be treated as though they had been immunised in the UK.

People who are fully vaccinated, with one of the four approved vaccines will no longer need a pre-departure test before returning to the UK from destinations not on the red list.

The European Medicines Agency has also not yet approved Sinopharm. It is recognised for entry to only 10 European countries, including Spain and the Netherlands.