Mandatory HIV tests for expat jobseekers

Expatriates seeking work in the UAE will in future be expected to produce HIV/Aids-free certificates before entering the country.

Dr Ali bin Shukur, undersecretary of the Ministry of Health told the newspaper the Health and Labour ministries were considering the policy.

“We are planning a law in cooperation with other federal ministries, including the Ministry of Labour,” he said, adding “This measure will be part of a comprehensive project to be implemented in coordination with governments of several countries exporting labour force to the UAE.”

Expats will be screened again once entering the country as a visa condition, to protect against unreliable screening procedures and the forging of medical documents, he said.