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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Quarterly Update 2023
July 24, 2023
Grace period for visitor visa overstay change in guidelines
The UAE government has ended its grace period policy for expats and foreign nationals who overstay their visitor visa in Dubai and the ICP has standardised the overstaying fines in the UAE. The immigration authorities in all emirates have discontinued the grace period for foreign visitors who failed to exit the United Arab Emirates within their visa validity period or to extend the duration of stay permissible under the visa they used to enter the country. However, individuals who entered the United Arab Emirates on a visa-on-arrival will still have the 10-day grace period applied.
Key Points:
- Visitor visa holders will no longer be given a 10-day grace period if they overstay their visa in Dubai. Previously, visitors were able to stay in Dubai 10 days past their visa’s expiration date without being fined.
- According to the new rules, visit, tourist and residence visa overstaying fees have standardised at AED 50 per day (about US$13.60) per day. Those overstaying on a residency visa will have to pay AED 50 each day (AED 50 per day instead of AED 25).
- Fines can be paid through the immigration authority’s website or directly at the immigration counters on departure.
- Visitor visa holders can apply for a 30-day extension visa through authorized travel or tourism companies.
Hence, for UAE Visit visa holders who intend to stay in the country beyond their visa’s validity it is recommended they should apply for an extension in advance to avoid fines and penalties. All visitor visas holders must leave the country or extend their visa to avoid overstay fines. This regulation does not affect nationalities eligible for 30 – or 90-day visas on arrival.
Sources of information:
Dubai removes 10-day grace period for visit visas (thenationalnews.com)
Re-entry permit is now available to some residents
The UAE government launched a re-entry permit for UAE residents who stay outside of the country for more than six months provided they meet the below criteria:
- The UAE residence visa holder must have a valid residence permit for at least a year.
- No restrictions that prevent the traveller from entering the country should exist.
- The work or residency card needs to include the profession.
Key Points:
- Residents of the United Arab Emirates who have been outside the country for valid reasons as stipulated by the government such as study, work, or medical reasons for more than six months can apply for the re-entry permit.
- Previously, residents’ permits were cancelled without the option of applying for a re-entry permit if they stayed outside of the country for more than six months.
- To apply for the re-entry permit, residents must submit a copy of their Emirates ID, passport and a written reason for their delay in entering the country.
- Foreign nationals holding golden residence permits are not eligible for the re-entry permit. Golden Visa holders, can remain abroad for as long as needed without it affecting their residency status.
Sources of information:
Entry permit for residents in the GCC countries (gdrfad.gov.ae)
Entry validity period extension made available
The UAE government recently announced that it would allow foreign nationals to apply for an entry period extension if unable to enter the country.
Key Points:
- Foreign nationals who are unable to enter the United Arab Emirates within the initial 60-day validity period of their visa can now extend their entry validity period for an additional 60 days. To apply for the validity extension, individuals must:
- Submit an extension application from outside the country through this website or the UAE PASS application.
- Upload supporting documents.
- Pay applicable fees.
- Previously, foreign nationals who were unable to enter the country within the initial 60-day period had to apply for a new visa to enter the country.
- The entry validity period extension is available for all visa types.
UAE Authorities are now offering the 60-day entry validity period extension to increase flexibility and simplify immigration procedures for foreign nationals who are unable to travel to the country within the initial 60-day period.
Source of information:
UAE and Azerbaijan – visa free tourist travel
The United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan have developed very strong, reliable friendship and brotherhood relations and necessary steps are continuously taken to expand the cooperation in industry, energy, agriculture, communication and high-tech, also in transport, trade, investment, tourism, launching of new airlines, education and culture.
Following the attempts between the governments of Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates have signed a bilateral agreement allowing visa-free entry for nationals of each other’s country. Under the waiver, nationals of the United Arab Emirates can now travel to Azerbaijan for tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. Similarly, nationals of Azerbaijan can travel to the United Arab Emirates for tourism for up to 90 days without a visa.
Source of information:
UAE and Azerbaijan offer visa-free travel – Arabian Business
Emiratisation expanded to smaller companies
In 2021, the government of the United Arab Emirates first announced the launch of a federal program called Nafis, to support the training and recruitment of Emirati citizens in the private sector due to their relatively high level of unemployment in this sphere. Nafis is a governmental federal program aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Emirati human resources and empowering them to occupy jobs in the United Arab Emirates’ private sector over the next five years. It was launched as part of the “Projects of the 50”, which aim to accelerate the development journey of the UAE.
In 2022, for mainland registered private sector companies with 50 or more employees were required to increase their Emirati workforce in excess of their current quota through a 2% year on year increase until they reach 10% in 2026.
Key points
- Following the above the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) has now announced that effective January 1, 2024, companies with 20-49 employees operating in 14 key economic sectors will be subject to Emiratization requirements.
- Enterprises that fail to abide by these new Emiratisation rules will be subject to annual financial contributions. An amount of Dh 96,000 will be imposed on those who do not hire an Emirati citizen as stipulated for the year 2024. The fine increases to Dh 108,000 for the next year, 2025.
Source of information:
Nafis | Emirati Talent competitiveness council
