The announcement by the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) relaxing entry procedures for UAE residents is a big relief for expatriates and their children stranded abroad since the pandemic began in March.
The UAE residents will no longer require pre-approval before entering the country and an optional simple three-step procedure is all that is required in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The rules for expatriates with resident visa issued by Dubai, however, remain un-changed. They still need a pre-approval by General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) before returning to the country. It was not immediately clear as to why Dubai residents stranded abroad still require this permit when residence-visa holders from other emirates don’t.
A clarification from the GDRFA will help ease anxiety of those desperate to return to the UAE and resume their jobs. The ICA announcement came weeks after restrictions on tourist visa — both pre-approved and visa on arrival — were lifted late last month.
These two steps will help restore mobility of people between the UAE and other countries as the emirates resume normal business and tourism activities.
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