UAE targets return of 200,000 residency visa holders

Dubai - Residency holders who want to return must register on the website smartservices.ica.gov.ae and then book a ticket after receiving an approval.

The UAE has launched on Thursday an initiative to allow residency visa holders to return to the country.

The country said it targets the return of approximately 200,000 residency holders, in cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

Earlier, the UAE had approved the returning of 31,000 people between March 25 and June 8.

Khaled Abdullah Belhoul, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the next phase will focus on the returning of families.

Residency holders who want to return to the UAE must register their request on the website smartservices.ica.gov.ae and then book a flight ticket after receiving an approval from the authority.

The authority added that all people returning to the country will have to get tested for Covid-19 on arrival, and they must to stay in quarantine or house quarantine for a period of 14 days, and pay for the expenses. They also will have to download and use an approved tracking app so the authorities can ensure their safety.