Coronavirus: UAE halts entry of residency visa holders who are abroad
The UAE has suspended the entry of all valid visa holders, who are currently out of the country, for a renewable period of two weeks effective noon on Thursday, March 19, due to the spread of COVID-19.
The development comes as a precautionary measure for the safety of those affected by the decision, which is subject to renewals depending on the health measures taken due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has requested those holding valid UAE visas, and now staying out of the country, to pursue the following procedures:
Those currently in their countries of origin
Those currently in their countries of origin should contact the UAE diplomatic missions in their respective countries for all necessary support and to streamline their return to the UAE.
Those currently outside the UAE for business
Those currently outside the UAE for business should contact their employers here as well as Emirati diplomatic missions in their host countries for all necessary support to facilitate their return to the UAE.
Those currently on vacation
Those currently on vacation should contact the UAE diplomatic mission in their respective host countries for all necessary support to facilitate their return to the UAE.
How to get in touch
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has urged the families of those affected by to get in touch with the ICA via the following contact numbers to get updated on all the measures they have to pursue:
Phone: 02 3128867 or 02 3128865
Mobile: 0501066099
Email: operation@ica.gov.ae
Fax: 025543883
In a statement on Wednesday, ICA said the new decision comes as part of the preventive and precautionary measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19.