UAE launches drive through COVID 19 testing center

The Department of Health (DoH) Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), launched the country’s first drive-though COVID-19 testing center in Zayed Sports City. UAE citizens and residents can be tested within five minutes, with results being delivered through SMS and the SEHA app. Through this initiative, the UAE has become the fifth nation in the world to implement a drive-through service, accelerating testing times for the nation’s population.

His Excellency  Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, commented: “The establishment of the new drive-through testing centre comes on the direction of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. It reflects their Highnesses’ commitment to provide all citizens and residents with the facilities needed to combat COVID-19 and reduce its impact.” 

Offered to Thiqa and non-Thiqa card holders, the drive-through testing facility operates from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and possesses the capacity to handle 600 tests per day. As part of the process, patients will need to book an appointment through Estijaba on 8001717.  Patients will need to participate in a pre-assessment screening, where they would need to answer questions related to their condition. While the elderly, pregnant women or people with chronic diseases will be prioritized and tested for free, those who prefer to do the examination just for reassurance will be charged AED 370.