Elderly Syrians rejoice after getting one-year UAE visa

Hail Harouni, a 67-year-old Syrian, had a grocery store and a house in Syria that was destroyed in the war.

An elderly Syrian man is overjoyed as he and his wife received a one-year UAE residency visa under the country's three-month long programme to help nationals from war-torn areas.
Citizens from Syria, Yemen and Libya are eligible to apply for the one-year UAE residency permit from August 1 to October 31. The resolution was adopted by the government to help refugees improve their living conditions until they are ready to return to their homeland. The UAE also announced in 2016 that it aims on welcoming 15,000 Syrian refugees in a span of five years.
Hail Harouni, a 67-year-old Syrian, had a grocery store and a house in Syria that was destroyed in the war. He and his wife were living on a visit visa in Sharjah with their daughter, however, they could no longer afford to continuously pay for visit visa renewals every three months.
"This is a blessing for us. We would like to thank the UAE government for giving us a chance to have a better life," Harouni said.
"We don't have a house to go back to in Syria or anywhere else, only here in Sharjah. So, leaving was not an option for us. This one-year visa has solved the biggest problem we were going through - having nowhere to go and paying over and over again for visit visas.
"If we still had a house in Syria and the situation wasn't dangerous, we'd be happy to live in our home country again. But, thanks to the UAE who have opened their doors to us and are giving so many people in the same situation as us a second chance."
Harouni isn't the only celebrating his new UAE residency visa. Syrian expat in Abu Dhabi, Shawakh Zaher, also received a one-year visa permit for his 10-year-old daughter this month, as reported previously by Khaleej Times.
Zaher is now applying for his second daughter and will be booking flight tickets to Abu Dhabi for both their daughters once the second visa is approved.
The visa is applicable for all Syrian, Yemeni and Libyan expats regardless of their current status in the UAE. If they are living illegally, all of their fines will be waived off and they have the opportunity to avail the one-year residency permit.
"The new decision is part of the UAE's ongoing efforts to help all those in need around the world and strengthen its position as an incubator of all nationalities, acting as a second homeland. It is also a part of the country's principles and responsibility to support the most vulnerable people of the world as an active supporter of international peace and stability, especially in the Arab and the GCC region," Emirates news agency (Wam) had reported when the news was first announced on June 18.
"The UAE offers a global model of economic development, cultural values, and political and social stability.
-Its foreign policy, developed by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, with wisdom and moderation, is based on the firm strategic principles of maintaining relations with all countries, standing by the most vulnerable and needy in the world, and contributing effectively to the promotion of international stability and peace."

One-year visa for people from war-torn countries

The UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in June had adopted a resolution granting nationals of countries facing war and natural disasters a one-year stay or residency permit, in solidarity with the people of affected nations and to offer them a chance to improve their living conditions until they are ready to return.
The decision was intended to help nationals of affected countries granted an extendable one-year permit - regardless of the conditions of their visa - between August 1 to October 31, as well as an exemption from any imposed fines.
The decision was part of the UAE's efforts to help those in need and strengthen its position as an incubator of all nationalities, acting as a second homeland.

KT NANO EDIT

Start life afresh, in peace
The changes brought about in the UAE's visa formalities show its progressive nature and the efforts to be seen as a second homeland to people in need. The one year visa offered to Syrians and others will bring solace to such people suffering under the pressures of war. One year gives them enough time to tide over difficulties and begin a new life in peace.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com    

• Dubai