Originally Posted by
extramileage
This is all about Abu Dhabi pulling rank on Dubai and asserting dominance. The back and forth on rules has been ongoing for some time, such as with the reentry rules for residents (different ones for Dubai residents vs other Emirates, different websites to apply, testing on arrival etc). I can assure you EK is not happy with this outcome. What a mess! Terrible for business, but cash-rich AD doesn't care as much.
Well done, finally someone who understands the dynamics
Here is the sequence of events based on what you read on news
1) Dubai did a full lockdown in April for 3 weeks, Abu Dhabi only did a night curfew
2) After May, Dubai announced plans to reopen offices in 2 weeks
3) Next day, Abu Dhabi announced a border closure
4) After 2 weeks in mid June, Dubai announced separate entry requirements for its stranded residents, and also a decision to allow tourists from July
5) In late June, Abu Dhabi announced people will be allowed into Abu Dhabi only if they do a Covid test within the last 2 days. This puts off visitors from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and also the other way round (though to a lesser extent)
6) In mid July, unified entry measures were announced which meant the Covid test for all passengers and other current rules.
It was a to and fro, with Dubai first announcing separate, more liberal, policies, but eventually agreeing to unified policies