Expired Emirates IDs will be valid for banking transactions in the UAE

The UAE Central Bank has instructed all banks in the country to consider expats’ visas and Emirates ID expired between March 1 and December 31, 2020 valid for bank transactions, according to local media reports.

The decision will also cover all residents who are either inside or outside the country, local daily Khaleej Times reported.

Also, it instructed that the banks should consider entry permits issued to expats in the UAE from March 1 – December 31, 2020 to be valid.

The announcement comes after the UAE government announced last week that all visas, entry permits and Emirates IDs that expired after March 1, 2020 will remain valid until the end of 2020.

Read: UAE residency visas and Emirates IDs to remain valid until the end of 2020

The extraordinary announcement came as a significant relief measure to aid residents and visitors in the UAE as well as those who couldn’t exit or return to the country as a result of the travel restrictions and flight suspensions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.