Complete guide to the Al Hosn app in the UAE
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the UAE, the government has worked tirelessly to contain the exposure of the virus and limit the number of cases in the country. The timely implementation of these coronavirus precautionary measures has helped the UAE to bounce back to relative normality fairly quickly. However, the groundbreaking Al Hosn app in the UAE has become the government’s most effective tool in its ongoing combat against COVID-19.
Check out our helpful video to know more about how to use the Al Hosn app!
ABOUT AL HOSN UAE APP
Named after the Al Hosn Fort, one of the most prominent architectural treasures in Abu Dhabi, The Al Hosn UAE app was launched on April 24, 2020. It was created to fortify the community’s defences against this challenging situation.
A joint venture of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Dubai Health Authority and the Abu Dhabi Health Authority, this app has become the official platform for health testing and contact tracing in the UAE’s battle against coronavirus.
The Al Hosn app’s basic purpose is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by contact-tracing all individuals who have come into contact with positive cases. It also allows people to keep track of their health and test results. It acts as a gate pass to public places for those who are not infected by the disease.
The app’s success is based on the number of people who use it. When more people use it, it becomes easier for the health authorities to access records and successfully combat this pandemic.
WHY DO YOU NEED THE AL HOSN CONTACT TRACING APPLICATION?
The Al Hosn app in the UAE has been designed to act as a safety measure against the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. When everyone in the UAE uses the Al Hosn app, it helps the government and health authorities to:
- Protect you. The app reveals if you have been in close contact with someone who tested COVID-19 positive and hence you have higher chances of contracting the disease yourself.
- Protect your loved ones. Early tracking of all those around you who might contract the disease from you helps limit the spread of the disease.
- Protect the community: The Al Hosn app makes it easier and quicker to trace people possibly at risk of contracting the virus on a national level – proving monumental in limiting the number of people infected by the virus.
HOW TO USE AL HOSN APP?
The Al Hosn UAE is an easy-to-use app. You can be download Al Hosn app for free from Google Play Store (for Android) and the App Store (for iPhone). Here’s how you can activate and use the Al Hosn app in the UAE:
- Download the Al Hosn application.
- Register yourself on the app using your mobile number and Emirates ID.
- An OTP (one time password) will be sent to your smartphone for verification.
- Enter the OTP and verify your account.
- Switch on your Bluetooth to complete registration.
- The app will issue a unique QR code.
Your personal QR code paired with the app’s colour-coding system helps determine your health status. The Al Hosn App’s colour-coding system is based on four different colours, each signifying your potential standing against the COVID-19 outbreak.
- GREY: means you have not tested for coronavirus yet.
- GREEN: signifies that you have tested for coronavirus and you are not infected. The green code will grant you access to public places and the reopened places of worship in the UAE.
- AMBER: means you have been possibly exposed to the virus and you need to get tested or retested as soon as you can. Don’t waste any time getting the COVID-19 Test in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any of the other emirates where you live.
- RED: indicates that your latest coronavirus tests reveal that you’re COVID-19 positive and must reach out to the healthcare authorities for proper guidance.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has approved the green pass system on the app that takes into account six different categories. These categories and the validity of the green pass is dependent on the vaccination status of the user. To find out more about these categories, read our post on the green pass in Abu Dhabi.
HOW DOES THE APP WORK?
Al Hosn is basically a contact tracing app that uses encrypted Secure Tracing Identifiers (STI)s to track and trace individuals and their potential susceptibility to the disease. The STI is locally exchanged on smart devices via Bluetooth and this data is temporarily (3 weeks) stored in the device with the respective timestamp.
When a person is found infected, the health authorities request them to share the STI data stored on their phones. This gives the health authorities a complete list of all the people that might be potentially infected because they knowingly or unknowingly came in contact with the infected individual over the course of the past three weeks.
The colour on their Al Hosn app will turn amber, indicating that they need to get themselves tested to protect themselves and those around them. This is an effective way to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the UAE.
Besides making the public aware of their health condition, the app:
- Allows them to receive their coronavirus test results on their smartphones.
- Educate people on proper sanitation, hygiene and the rules of social distancing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are some commonly asked questions about the Al Hosn App and its usage:
HOW LONG DOES A GREEN CODE LAST ON THE AL HOSN APP?
On the Al Hosn app, the green code is based on the vaccination status and the validity of the negative PCR test. From 5th December 2021, the green status on the app only lasts for 14 days after the PCR test. After 14 days, the colour will turn grey until a new PCR test is secured.
WHO SHOULD USE THE APP?
All UAE residents and nationals must use the Al Hosn app. The more people use the app, the more effective contact tracing and early identification become. Children, people of determination and/or the elderly who do not have their own Bluetooth-enabled smartphones can have their accounts associated with one of the family members’ or caregiver’s accounts. Everyone in the UAE must have an Al Hosn app account for proper monitoring.
HOW DO I MAKE SURE MY AL HOSN APP IS WORKING?
The best way to ensure your app is functioning properly is to keep it running. Also, make it a habit to refresh the app regularly. Then, if the app stops functioning for any reason, you will receive a notification.
If you have any queries about the app, you can call Al Hosn contact number that is 800 HOSN (4676) or email at info@alhosnapp.ae.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THE AL HOSN APP DOES NOT SHOW MY RESULTS?
According to the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), if the app is not displaying your correct Al Hosn app vaccine status, you must first update the Al Hosn app. If the problem persists, contact the Al Hosn app contact number or call the Weqaya hotline (a service that raises awareness regarding Covid-19 procedures) at 800937292.
CAN TOURISTS IN THE UAE DOWNLOAD THE AL HOSN APP?
Yes, tourists in the UAE are encouraged to download the app to show their COVID-19 vaccination status. In fact, in Abu Dhabi, most public places have made it mandatory for entry to have the Al Hosn green status and the new condition also applies to tourists. To register to the app, the tourist needs a Unified Identity Number issued by the immigration authorities.
DO I NEED AN INTERNET CONNECTION TO USE THE APP?
Generally, the UAE Al Hosn app only requires an active Bluetooth connection to function. However, you do need an internet connection to:
- Download the app
- Install periodic updates
- Re-start the app in case it crashes
That’s all we have for you about Al Hosn. The app allows federal and local authorities to trace and contact people at risk of infection so they can be retested if required. Stay updated with the procedure of the COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE to combat the coronavirus.
Technology has been one of the strongest allies of the UAE government to streamline official processes and make lives easier for the residents during the pandemic. The UAE Mystery Shopper app is another phenomenal government app that allows nationals and residents to rate government services anonymously. Similarly, apps like Tadbeer help people find domestic helpers across the country.
Dubai has even gone a step further to introduce apps like Montaji that increase buyer awareness and helps people to avoid being duped into buying fake/unapproved products.
Which government apps in the UAE have proved useful to you and how? Share your experiences with us in the comments below.
You can also join the growing MyBayut community on Facebook to connect and interact with other people living in the UAE, just like you!
*Cover Image courtesy of Al Hosn App Facebook Page
Leave a Reply
How can i use the app using others emirates id
Hi Leanard,
Thanks for writing to us. Your Emirates ID is the same for all emirates and works regardless of the emirate you reside in.
We hope this helps. Have a nice day!
By mistakly my aap will get delet what can i do?
Hi Ashfal,
Thanks for writing to us. You can download the app again and sign in with your existing login details to access your account.
We hope this helps. Have a nice day!