POEA: No quarantine for UAE-bound OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound for the United Arab Emirates are no longer required to undergo quarantine, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said yesterday.

Abu Dhabi has classified the Philippines as among the “green countries” whose citizens can directly enter the Arab country without the need to undergo further quarantine, POEA chief Bernard Olalia said.

“The Philippines has been included in the green list that took effect last Nov. 7,” he said in an advisory.

However, fully vaccinated Filipino travelers are still required to show a negative result for an RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure, according to Olalia.

He said the travelers will be given another swab test upon arriving in Abu Dhabi and on the sixth day.

Unvaccinated travelers are also not required to undergo quarantine but a negative RT-PCR test result is still required. Olalia said they shall also be tested upon arrival and on the sixth and ninth days.