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Emirates and Dubai Health
Authority begin implementing
digital verification of
COVID-19 medical records for
UAE based travelers
(Dubai, UAE) -
Emirates and the Dubai
Health Authority (DHA) have
begun to implement full
digital verification of
COVID-19 medical records
connected to testing and
vaccination for travelers
based in the UAE.
Emirates customers who have
undertaken a PCR test in
Dubai can choose to check-in
without presenting their
physical COVID-19 PCR test
report. Moreover, customers
who have received their
COVID-19 vaccination at a
DHA health centre in Dubai
can, together with their
COVID-19 PCR test results,
have their documents
synchronized during flight
check-in. The new
streamlined verification
procedures will enable
secure and faster processing
times for customers
departing from Dubai
International Airport. The
information will then be
matched-up with the entry
requirements of the
destination.
Emirates
will only process the
relevant information
specifically related to the
COVID-19 entry requirements
of the customer’s
destination. Once check-in
formalities are completed,
information related to
COVID-19 medical records
will be immediately
discarded from the Emirates
systems.
The
integration comes less than
two months after the signing
of the MoU between Emirates
and the Dubai Health
Authority; and is a
first-of-its-kind agreement
between an airline and a
government health authority.
The integration also makes
Dubai one of the first
cities in the world to
implement full digital
verification of traveler
medical records related to
COVID-19 testing and
vaccination.
Adel Al Redha, Chief
Operating Officer for
Emirates Airline said:
“The UAE government has been
very supportive and is one
of the leading countries in
the use of technology and
digital applications. This
initiative is in line with
the government’s vision, and
we are delighted to take
this step within the
aviation sector to cooperate
with DHA in linking our
systems together to enhance
the customer experience by
processing the relevant
documents in a more
efficient, secure, and
effective manner. Our
partnership with the Dubai
Health Authority in managing
passenger travel is unique
and is a first step towards
other initiatives that will
be launched in the near
future. This is a testament
to Dubai’s progressive
approach in delivering
innovative digital solutions
across all aspects of
services.”
Ahmed Al Nuaimi, CEO of
Joint Corporate Support
Services at the DHA said:
“The Dubai Health Authority
(DHA) has been strongly
foraying into paperless
healthcare over the past few
years to enhance patient
convenience and further
improve healthcare delivery.
Since the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic, we have
deployed and fostered the
use of digital healthcare.
The strategic foresight into
investing in digital
healthcare has paved the way
today for such a pioneering
integration. This
partnership will directly
help streamline and make
travel easy and convenient
as well as ensure validation
of all necessary COVID-19
medical records.”
Kleitham Ali Al
Shamsi, Director of IT at
the Dubai Health Authority
highlighted that DHA’s
strategic investment and
focus on healthcare
technology has significant
benefits not only in the
health sector but also in
the travel sector: “This
partnership reinforces that
technology has the potential
to securely, conveniently
and effectively assist
airlines to receive the
verified COVID-19 test
results and vaccination
records. From the onset of
the COVID-19 pandemic, DHA
has worked tirelessly to
connect all the laboratories
that process COVID-19 test
results in Dubai into DHA’s
Outbreak Management system,
this integration has been
instrumental today to help
develop such a unique
integration with Emirates
Airline.”
Emirates’
collaboration with the Dubai
Health Authority is another
way to provide customers
with a streamlined
experience and meet current
travel requirements, making
travel safe and convenient.
Emirates is one of the
airlines that has introduced
best business practices and
applications to reenergize
and stimulate international
travel. In the coming
months, the next phase of
digital verification will
see secure integration of
health records within the
IATA Travel Pass as another
option to help facilitate
travel for passengers.
Customers who have done
PCR testing or vaccinations
outside of Dubai will be
required to physically
provide their travel
documents at check-in. Some
destination countries
require travelers to carry
physical documents when
travelling. Customers are
encouraged to check the
latest entry requirements
for their destination by
visiting:
www.emirates.com/help/covid-19/travel-requirements-by-destination/
Source:
Emirates
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