The resident received the Abu Dhabi Award personally from President Sheikh Mohamed for her heroic action on April 19
Afi Ahmed, the manager director of Smart Travel, an authorised visa change dealer of a UAE-based airline with 13 branches in the UAE told Khaleej Times said on March 14, over a thousand visit visa holders and feared they would either be stranded in the UAE without a valid visit visa or would have to return to their home countries.
"There were several hundred passengers in this situation. It was only later that it became clear visit visa holders could change their status within the country," Ahmed told Khaleej Times.
"Time was of the essence here. About 60 per cent of the visa holders were our customers. Given the numbers were so large, I decided to charter the flights," explained Ahmed. Several other passengers were customers of partner agencies and their visas were about to expire. A few passengers had expired visas and they had to pay fines.
Ahmed said he was able to charter nine flights with a capacity of 189 passengers to Muscat. The flights operated from 10pm on March 15 till 3pm on March 16. "The aim was to ensure visit visa holders got their visas on time," he said.
Following which, Ahmed himself flew out to his hometown in Kannur, Kerala, where is presently under home quarantine. "I came here on Wednesday night before the quarantine protocols in the UAE were put into place, deciding to spend some time with my family," said Ahmed.
He now plans to return after 14 days. "I will make a call based on announcements from the government. I hope things will improve," he said.
The resident received the Abu Dhabi Award personally from President Sheikh Mohamed for her heroic action on April 19
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