UAE launches initiative to repatriate residents holding valid visas

The UAE has issued a directive to bring back residents holding valid residence permits currently stationed outside the country, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) tweeted.

The initiative, which is aimed at residents who were stranded outside the UAE due to travel restrictions triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, is targeting the return of nearly 200,000 people.

The efforts will be coordinated between ICA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC), the tweet read.

The UAE has launched an initiative to return residents with valid visas who have been staying outside the country due to Covid19. The initiative targets the return of nearly 200,000 people and will be coordinated between the @MoFAICUAE and ICA pic.twitter.com/MnCsiUIP4z

— Identity and Citizenship- UAE (@ICAUAE) June 11, 2020

The UAE had suspended the entry of all its valid visa holders, including residents currently abroad, for a renewable period of two weeks, beginning March 19.

Read: UAE suspends entry of residency visa holders abroad, stops issuing work permits

On May 19, UAE announced that all foreign nationals who posses a valid residence visa will be allowed to return to the country beginning June 1.

Read: Expat residents allowed to return to the UAE from June 1

On June 4, the UAE government lifted the restriction on nation-wide airports, permitting them to resume limited commercial passenger flights. The country had earlier suspended all regular commercial passenger flight operations since March 26.

Read more: UAE reopens airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah