UAE: Full list of Covid rules for schools in Abu Dhabi, Dubai as normal learning resumes

Over one million students in the UAE will return to full-fledged schooling for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The 2022-23 academic year begins next week, and for students and educators, these are very exciting times.

Hazza Al Mansouri, official spokesman for the UAE’s education sector, recently announced updated Covid safety protocols for educational establishments. Notable changes include doing away with the requirement for periodic PCR testing as well as social distancing in schools or buses, and requiring unvaccinated students to resume in-person learning.

Here is the full list of protocols:

These rules are applicable for public schools and colleges. Education regulators in each emirate usually issue their own rules for facilities.

Rules in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) recently announced the Covid safety rules for students.

- Physical distancing: Not required

- PCR testing: Only required on the first day of schools for students aged 12 and over, and staff. The test must have been taken within 96 hours of the first day. It is also needed if students or staff exhibit Covid symptoms. Routine testing is not required.

- Vaccination: Not mandatory for students.

- Masks: Optional outdoors, and mandatory indoors.

- School entry requirements for visitors: Green Pass on Al Hosn app.

Rules in Dubai

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has not announced any fresh Covid safety protocols for students. The previous update was announced in March.

- Physical distancing remains mandatory.

- Face masks are not required outdoors. They remain compulsory indoors for students in Year 2 (Grade 1) and above.

- Children, students and staff who are considered close contacts but do not exhibit Covid symptoms are not required to isolate and may continue attending classes.

- Regular and consistent sanitisation.

- Covid-positive cases must isolate for 10 days.

- Schools will continue to offer distance learning to students who test positive for Covid, and close contacts with symptoms awaiting the results of a PCR test.

Schools all set for students

Meanwhile, educators have expressed their excitement about welcoming back students for the new academic year.