UAE to welcome holders of valid residency visas from June 1
A passenger walks at Dubai International Airport in Dubai. Reuters
On March 19, the UAE suspended entry of valid residence visa holders who are still abroad over coronavirus concerns.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) and the Federal Authority For Identity and Citizenship (ICA) said foreign nationals holding valid residence visa can return to the UAE starting June 1st.
Stranded UAE residents can register via: smartservices.ica.gov.ae
MoFAIC and ICA in a joint statement said the decision stems from the UAE's keenness to enable those holding valid residence visas to get reunited with their families after having been affected by the precautionary measures taken under the current exceptional circumstances to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The move is aimed at streamlining their safe return to the UAE," added the statement.
In the meantime, ICA called on those holding valid residence visas and wishing to return to the UAE to register in the service entitled " Residents' Entry Permit", via its website: smartservices.ica.gov.ae
Meanwhile, QuantLase Imaging Lab, the medical-research arm of the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange-listed International Holdings Company, IHC, announced that it has developed novel equipment which enables for much faster mass screenings, with test results available in seconds and allowing testing on a wider scale.
The technology will reinforce the UAE’s position as a hub of research and innovation, as scientists around the world scramble to devise a faster method of testing for patients suspected to have been infected with the coronavirus and potentially identifying carriers before they become infectious. This break-through will enable ‘Mass-scale screening’, changing the whole dimension of tracing and the speed with which workforces can be approached.
