Dh50 Covid-19 test at Dubai-Abu Dhabi border only for families

A new screening facility at the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border that provides Covid-19 test results in five minutes will only accept families for the time being, a senior official has said.

"The testing facility is currently available only for families. Women can also avail of the test," Abdullah A Rashdi, spokesperson for Tamouh Healthcare, an Abu Dhabi government-run medical company that is responsible for managing the new testing centre, told Khaleej Times.

Rashdi said arrangements will be made to accept all residents "within a few days".

Since Tuesday, hundreds have turned up at the tent located just before the Ghantoot border checkpoint near the main highway to take the test that costs only Dh50.

Anyone wishing to enter Abu Dhabi has to produce a negative Covid-19 test result, and the PCR test that is available at other health centres costs around Dh370. The new laser-based test, which is quicker and cheaper, was announced by authorities last week to ease the travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

"We are currently building a new tent to exclusively cater to families and we hope it will be ready by tomorrow. Then the existing tent will start receiving other residents who want to take the test," said Al Rashdi.

The official said an online application system will be launched by Wednesday evening and residents will be required to take prior appointments before turning up at the centre.

"We are working on it. The online application will help streamline the process."

Many residents said they were turned away from the tent due to the heavy rush.

"I waited for more than two hours this morning. Many people were turned away and then the police came and asked people to leave," said a Dubai resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai

Anjana Sankar

anjana@khaleejtimes.com