UAE residents no longer require government approvals to return to the country

All expats with UAE residency visas now no longer require government approvals and entry permits to return to the UAE.

The directive will be effective from Wednesday, August 12, and was jointly announced by the National Authority for Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) early on Wednesday as part of the second phase of the Resident Return Programme.

The decision was reportedly taken in light of the end of the summer vacations and the return of families as commercial activities pick up within the country, reported news agency WAM.

دعم برنامج عودة المقيمين من خلال إطلاق المرحلة الثانية واعتماد الموافقة المسبقة بالتزامن مع مرحلة تخفيف القيود وعودة الحياة تدريجياً#وام
للتفاصيل: https://t.co/xWdJCyp2Jq pic.twitter.com/mrl3EFUQEt

— وكالة أنباء الإمارات (@wamnews) August 11, 2020

Residents who wish to return to the country are automatically approved to do so and no longer need to apply for ICA approval.

Previously, ICA approval was mandatory for all residents whose visas were issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Residents of Dubai meanwhile required approvals from the emirate’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

The latest decision came hours after several airlines said that they had received an email from the Abu Dhabi International Airport stating that those wishing to fly to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain airport no longer need ICA approval starting August 11.

Read: UAE residents arriving in Abu Dhabi do not require ICA approval

However, this latest decision means that residents arriving at any international airport in the UAE – irrespective of the emirate which has issued their visa – can now return without seeking any sort of UAE government approvals.

The authority has though advised residents to visit uaeentry.ica.gov.ae and fill in their details including Emirates ID number, passport details and nationality to check the validity of their documents and visas. However, it stressed that entering these details on the portal was optional since they would be granted permission to enter irrespective of doing so.

However, returning expats must furnish a Covid-19 negative PCR test result to all airlines, taken not more than 96 hours before take-off.

It added that all precautionary and preventive measures will be applied to all residents upon their arrival to the country, including conducting a Covid-19 laboratory examination for the virus. Also, residents must adhere to the quarantine measures, as instructed, in addition to downloading the Al Hosn app too.