The ban took effect in January this year
The ban was imposed by the country on February 7 as part of measures to curb the spike in the number of coronavirus cases
The new decision allows expat government employees and those on dependent visas to transfer to jobs in the private sector
The number of expats in the country’s workforce has now dropped to 1.5 million
Lawmakers have called for a 2.5 per cent fee on all money transfers out of the country
Up to 272,126 foreign workers, mostly from Nepal, Uganda, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Egypt, have left Oman
The new decision will apply to all expats entering the country
The cost of each returning worker has been fixed at KD270 to cover quarantine expenses
The amnesty will require expats living illegally to either get a valid residency or leave the country after paying their fines to avoid a ban
The new decision is hoped to enhance the UAE’s attractiveness for investment and business growth
The initiative, which began on November 15, runs until the end of the year
The decision applies to expat workers who do not have a university degree
The law does not include the previously proposed quota system for expat nationalities
Those whose visas expired between March 1 and July 11 had a three-month grace period, which ended on October 10
The decision will not apply to students and nurses who already have licences
While 150 expats have been fired, another 400 are expected to receive termination letters, local media reported
The draft law gives the government six months to determine the number of expats needed by the country
The decision comes since international passenger flights to and from the kingdom remain suspended
Expatriates whose visas expired by the end of May were given a three-month free grace period to renew their documents
A directive that went into effect on Wednesday had said all expats with UAE residency visas can enter the country without prior approvals
The Gulf state is aggressively looking to reduce its expat population
Kuwaiti lawmakers have approved amendments to the rent law, allowing tenants to delay their rent payments
Only about 1,000 pilgrims – all from inside Saudi Arabia – have been permitted to perform Hajj this year
The proposal also seeks to deport “all expats undergoing treatment at psychiatric hospitals”
If approved, the law would require some 800,000 Indians to leave the country
All residents seeking to return to the UAE must receive approvals from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
Those who are unable to present a Covid negative test within 72 hours of departure will not be allowed to board their flight
All related fines for visa violators will be waived if they leave before August 18
Lawmakers are also calling for limiting the duration of residence for foreign workers in the country
Mosques across the country are expected to reopen later this week