Face masks no longer mandatory indoors in the UAE

It is a day to celebrate as face masks are no longer mandatory in many places in the United Arab Emirates.

Masks remain mandatory in hospitals, mosques and public transport and the other places are down to personal preference.

If you are sick, old or have COVID-19 symptoms you are advised to wear a mask.

We expect people will be shouting hooray from the top of their lungs as face coverings are binned once and for all (we hope).

The welcomed update was shared on Monday September 26 by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority.

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Taking to Twitter, the authority explained that face coverings will now be a thing of the past during a news conference and via Twitter starting today (Wednesday September 28).

Also, the Al HOSN green pass is mandatory to enter federal buildings and if you are vaccinated you must have the pass updated once monthly and if not, every seven days.

Mask wearing has slowly but surely been phased out in the UAE in the past few months and since Saturday February 26, it has been optional to wear face masks in outdoor areas.

However, on Monday June 13 the UAE reinforced the importance of wearing face masks indoors in the ongoing preventative and precautionary measures against COVID-19.

Those not wearing a face mask in public could face a fine of Dhs3000, which no one will not be at risk of now as mask wearing is no longer required.

It comes after the last COVID-19 update on August 25, where people expected mask wearing to be ended but instead it was announced that mask wearing was to remain in educational settings.

Social distancing in schools was removed and down to each facility to decide but parents of school children have eagerly been awaiting the news that kiddos no longer have to sit in class wearing face coverings.