ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates has extended the grace period for residency violators for another three months, including fine exemptions, Emirates News Agency WAM quoted the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) as saying late on Sunday.
This the latest UAE measure related to the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The grace period extension runs from Aug. 18 to Nov. 17 and includes all violators with visas expired before March 1,” a statement from Maj. Gen. Saeed Rakan Al-Rashidi, director general of Foreigners Affairs and Ports at ICA, said according to WAM.
Al-Rashidi pointed out that this “generous initiative” will cover all violators of the entry and residency law, taking into consideration the exceptional circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
He said that all violators will not be banned from entering the UAE provided they leave the country.
Visa holders wishing to leave the UAE from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al-Khaimah airports must arrive 6 hours before the flight, while those leaving through Dubai airports, must visit the Civil Aviation Security Police deportation center near Terminal 2, 48 hours before the flight departure, according to WAM.
On June 8, the UAE had announced that residency law violators would be permitted to leave the country with all related fines waived.
— Agencies