GDRFA reveals procedure for Dubai residents to return

A new system has been set up to facilitate the return of Dubai residents stranded abroad. Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management had announced yesterday that the emirate's airports would start receiving residents from Monday (June 22).

Residents are required to get an approval from Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) before booking flight tickets. The approval can be secured from here.

The GDRFA on Tuesday, June 23, tweeted the procedure residents must follow and conditions they must adhere to for travelling back.

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Procedures for returning dubai residents.#?????_???#?????????_???????#?????_???_??????#gdrfadubai pic.twitter.com/tGnFOqJAFG

- GDRFA DUBAI ????? ??? (@GDRFADUBAI) June 23, 2020

Earlier, they were required to get an approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

According to an updated list of guidelines for returning residents posted by Emirates, if the application is approved, residents will "receive an instant response". "If the application can't be processed, you can try again later," the airline advised.

Residents should book their tickets only after getting the approval. "During the booking process, you will be asked to enter your GDRFA Application Number. Please bring a copy of the approval email with you when you travel," Emirates said on its website.

Every passenger flying to Dubai needs to fill in a health declaration form and a quarantine declaration form. "Both forms need to be printed, completed and handed over to the Dubai Health Authority staff at arrival."

Procedures for returning residents:

> They must pre-book their flights through the official websites of airlines operating at Dubai airports.
> They must sign a declaration stating their commitment to bear the costs of examination and treatment in the event of contracting Covid-19.
> All arrivals must register their details on the Covid-19 DXB app.
> No PCR test is required before departure. They will need to undergo the test at Dubai airports.
> Residents must stay home until their PCR test results come out.
> They will be obliged to abide by the 14-day quarantine in case they test positive for Covid-19.
> They must comply with all precautionary measures applied in Dubai, such as wearing masks, maintaining a social distance of two metres, and washing hands regularly.