UAE flights: Stranded expats jubilant as inbound travel rules eased

Dubai - Residence visa holders from 6 nations await final SOP, flight ticket schedules.

The long, frustrating wait is finally over for stranded expatriates desperate to return to their jobs, families and lives in the UAE

There was a collective gasp of relief all around, as the UAE announced that starting August 5, restrictions on inbound travellers from six countries would ease.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) said on Tuesday that fully-vaccinated residence visa holders from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda can return to the UAE.

According to state media agency Wam, residents must have received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine in the UAE and 14 days should have passed since the second dose. Certain categories of unvaccinated residents, including healthcare workers, education professionals and students have also been granted permission to return as long as they receive Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) approvals, Wam added.

The news has brought widespread joy and relief to thousands of expatriates who have been stranded in these countries — some since the beginning of the year and some since the mid of this year.

While official delegations, diplomats, Expo 2020 workers, golden and silver residency visa holders have had special permissions to travel to the UAE for months now, many others were desperately awaiting return to the UAE.

Expats await travel protocols

Now that the green signal has been given, expatriates are awaiting details of the travel protocols and requirements from the airline sources to book their flight tickets.

Travel agents told Khaleej Times that UAE authorities have put in place a stringent vetting process at the ICA approval-seeking stage. The ICA approval website, is asking passengers to upload passport details, vaccine information, and PCR test results prior to their departure.

Mirza Aziz, a UAE resident stranded in Karachi told Khaleej Times: “I’m an Abu Dhabi-visa holder and I’ve been facing trouble in getting ICA approvals for several months now.” He said, “My status on the ICA website has always shown ‘red’, due to which I have refrained from booking air tickets as well.”

Lijin Cherian, who has been in India since March this year, said, “I travelled home on an emergency. My sister and parents were ill and I took time off work to take care of them. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be stuck for so long.”