UAE Bans Unvaccinated Citizens From Leaving Country

A general view of JBR from the Bluewaters Island in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Satish Kumar/Reuters)

The United Arab Emirates will ban its citizens from leaving the country if they haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Starting Jan. 10, only citizens who are fully vaccinated and have received booster shots will be allowed to leave, state news agency WAM reported, citing the UAE’s foreign ministry and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.

The new rules do not apply to non-citizens.

Exemptions will be made for citizens who cite medical reasons, as well as those who are seeking medical treatment overseas, or cite humanitarian reasons.

Some countries around the world, such as Israel, have barred COVID-19 unvaccinated people from entering, rather than leaving. Meanwhile, in Canada, the government barred COVID-19 unvaccinated people over age 12 from boarding a plane or train inside the country in late November 2021 and has announced a policy to bar most categories of unvaccinated travelers into the country as of Jan. 15.

Many countries and airlines have otherwise imposed restrictions on unvaccinated people, such as requiring them to test negative within 72 hours before entering.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Correction: This article has been updated to clarify UAE’s rules apply to citizens, as well as clarify Canada’s policy with regard to air travel. The Epoch Times regrets the errors.