Can I land at Dubai airport if I have an Abu Dhabi visa?
Residents who have been away for a long period must seek ICA approval
What are the regulations that residents of an emirate have to follow if they land at an airport in another emirate in the UAE? This was the query raised by a Gulf News reader.
He asked: “I would like to seek a clarification – I have been out of the UAE for the past seven months and want to come back to work. The issue is that I hold an Abu Dhabi visa and my flight arrives at Dubai International Airport. Is it possible to arrive in Dubai or should I arrive at Abu Dhabi airport, because I hear the rules have changed. Could you please advise?”
Howto apply
According to the latest guidelines published by Dubai Airports ( DXB) website – www.dubaiairports.dubaiairports.ae – while there is no restriction on UAE residents holding visas issued by non- Dubai emirates arriving at the airport, they would require an approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship ( ICA).
According to the ICA, residents with a valid residence visa issued by the ICA can confirm entry or reentry to the UAE, by entering their passport number, which has a valid residence permit, on this website: uaeentry.ica.gov.ae
On July 10, 2020, the UAE Cabinet approved several amendments to rules for visas and Emirates ID, which were made during the peak of Covid- 19 and announced the resumption of normalcy in the functions of ICA.
Away for over 6 months
According to the amendments, ICA would grant expatriate residents who are outside the UAE and whose residence visa expired after March 1, 2020, or who have been staying outside the UAE for more than six months, a specific period to return to the UAE from the date of the opening of the airspace between the UAE and the country of their present residence.
This period would be determined by ICA. By applying for the approval request on the ICA website, the residents would be able to confirm if they are allowed re- entry.
GDRFA, which issues visas in Dubai, also confirmed that residents who have been outside the UAE for over six months can return, after applying for a GDRFA approval.