Jessica Ashford, COO at leading UAE Company Service Provider PRO Partner Group discusses the new UAE Residence Visa process, and the removal of the requirement to obtain a physical visa stamp in the passport through the new combined smart Emirates ID card.

It was announced that from the 11th April all foreign nationals obtaining a UAE Residence Visa will no longer be issued with a UAE Residence Visa stamp endorsed in their passport.  Instead, individuals will receive the visa electronically and then use the updated Emirates Identity card, which will replace the requirement for the visa to be issued in the passport. 

This change has now been implemented in some Emirates and we are seeing the changes starting to be implemented, particularly in Abu Dhabi and the free zones.  

At PRO Partner Group we assist with a wide variety of residence visas in the UAE and we are seeing all types of visa moving to the new process, where the passport is not required as part of the process, and both the Visa and Work permit data is now present in the Emirates Identity card (EID).

In Abu Dhabi the processing time for obtaining a residence visa has now been reduced. Previously the passport was required to obtain the visa sticker, which was done via submission to Empost who then liaised with immigration and returned the passport with the completed stamped visa. 

The removal of the visa stamping in the passport will save between 3 to 5 working days, which is a significant benefit. The previous timeline was realistically 15 – 21 working days, this can now be reduced to by 3 – 5 working days if all relevant documents are in place and there are no delays for approvals from the government departments or in the issuance of health insurance.

The resident visa itself can be obtained through the ICA smart app and printed off in physical form if required.

We do foresee potential teething issues when dealing with other departments, and other organisations in the UAE – such as banks, utility providers, travel agencies etc. that do usually require sight of the physical Resident Visa in order to authorize transactions, and it will be important for all other organisations and government departments to update their systems to embrace the new combined ID document and smart app printing visa process.

In Dubai, once the visa is approved an electronic version has always been issued by GDRFA however, we are still witnessing the physical visa being applied to the passport, for the visas we have processed within this week. This is not yet in line with the updated process announced by the government, but expectation is that the implementation in Dubai will come shortly.

Free zones, such as DMCC and RAKEZ are already adopting the new process from our first-hand experience.

We are aware that the ICA has coordinated with stakeholders in the aviation industry to ensure that airlines can now verify the residency status through the passport number and Emirates ID. 

We expect those who fall under the new process to not experience any issues when exiting and entering the country with the electronic visa copy and EID card only.

Other UAE organisations such as Local Banks, Notary Publics and the DED may still request the physical Visas in the passport, but we expect these and other departments to update their systems swiftly in due course.

Overall, this is a very positive step and will make the immigration process more efficient and streamlined, it is a very welcome update from the UAE Government.

For companies looking for assistance with their staff residence visas, family visas, golden visas and any other related company setup, restructuring, local partner or PRO support matter in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the wider UAE, Oman, Qatar or Saudi Arabia then get in touch with PRO Partner Group at www.propartnergroup.com.

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23 February 2021, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has issued the updated list of ‘Green List’ destinations. Passengers arriving from these destinations will be exempt from mandatory quarantine measures after landing in Abu Dhabi and will only be required to undergo PCR testing upon arrival at Abu Dhabi Airport.

Countries, regions, and territories included within the ‘Green List’ will be regularly updated based on international development. Inclusion in the list is subject to strict criteria of health and safety to ensure the well-being of the UAE community. The list also only applies to countries passengers are arriving from rather than citizenship.

Please note below the updated ‘Green List’ as of 23 February 2021:

• Australia
• Bhutan
• Brunei
• China
• Greenland
• Hong Kong (SAR)
• Iceland
• Mauritius
• New Zealand
• Singapore

More information on the ‘Green List’ can be found on www.visitabudhabi.com. DCT Abu Dhabi will also continue to issue updates on the list and overall travel status in the coming months.

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“Surpassing the one million vaccine doses administered to the public in a record time is yet another testament to the community’s trust in the efficiency and effectiveness of the measures taken by the UAE government,” the ministry said in a statement on the same day that a record number of daily coronavirus cases was recorded.

Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary of Health Centres and Clinics Sector, and chairman of the National Committee for the Implementation of the Provisions of International Health Regulations and Prevention of Pandemics, said that the ministry is currently working to increase the capacity in government and private health facilities and to add more facilities without giving further details.

The UAE on Wednesday recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases for the second successive day, just 24 hours after Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum hailed efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

MoHAP announced another 3,362 new cases after conducting 134,768 additional Covid-19 tests over the past 24 hours.

MoHAP said the total number of recorded cases in the UAE has risen to 239,587, adding that a further six deaths had been recorded, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 723.

The ministry also noted that an additional 2,588 individuals had fully recovered from Covid-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 213,149.

The latest figures come a day after Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE has the world›s second best vaccination rate in the world and had “made significant steps in controlling the Covid-19 spread”. He also urged everyone to get vaccinated.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) also lauded the country’s healthcare sector for reducing the spread of the virus through contact tracing, early detection and quarantine procedures in a briefing on Tuesday.

Earlier this week, the UAE said it had exceeded one million coronavirus vaccinations, with NCEMA adding that it aimed to reach more than 50 percent of the country›s population during the first quarter of this year.

The number reached 1,275,652 as of Tuesday, representing over 12 percent of the population.

On Monday night, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, announced the immediate removal of the UAE from the travel corridor list, meaning anyone arriving from the UAE will need to self-isolate for 10 days.

This comes in after a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the UAE following the holiday period.

Article: Arabian Business

Image: Gulf Business

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The licence will be available to residents, non-residents, and citizens of UAE. Applicants must prove relevant skillset to get the licence. UAE residents should also get prior approval if employed in public or private sector firms, if their chosen activity is similar to their regular job.

Applicants can also apply for residence visas, authorities added. Office space is also not mandatory.

This new licence is expected to help companies take advantage of the broad experience and expertise available in the market while being able to eliminate employment in specialisations that are required only periodically. The licence is also expected to boost income of groups including housewives, retirees and students. It will also allow more remote working opportunities.

Enhancing business sector

Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of ADDED, said that the resolution will contribute to enhancing the role of both citizens and non-citizens in boosting Abu Dhabi›s business sector. He noted that this will help stimulate the business and investment environments in the emirate and will create more job opportunities in certain fields that add value to the business sector.

Al Blooshi explained that ADDED›s decision to qualify non-citizens for freelancer licences will have a positive impact on the services sector in the emirate as the economic activities under this type of licences are mostly technical and service related. However, many residents in the UAE, especially those with adequate professional experience in Abu Dhabi›s labour market, have the technical skills to practice these activities.

Helping the unemployed

Al Blooshi added the issuance of freelancer licences will lead to various positive economic results such as harnessing the skills of unemployed people. In addition, it allows those with technical expertise to practice freelance activities after finishing their normal work hours. He also pointed out that the licence will help businesses by eliminating the need to employ labours in all specialisations that are only needed periodically, apart from allowing freelancers to provide their services remotely and round the clock. Furthermore, it will contribute to solving the unemployment problem and will increase the income of various segments such as retirees, housewives and students, among others.

When you need employer approval

The regulatory list of the new resolution specifies a number of work terms and general conditions that need to be met by the applicants. In case the applicant works for the public sector, he/she should obtain an approval from the government employer and meet the general requirements. If the applicant works with a permanent employment contract in the private sector, two cases are identified here. In the first case, if the employer’s activity is similar to or overlaps with the activity of the requested licence, the employer’s approval is a must, in addition to meeting the general requirements.

In the second case, if the employer’s activity is different from the activity of the licence to be issued, then the employer’s approval is not needed in this case, same thing applies if the applicant works in a part time contract in the private sector. the two parties’ agreement’s terms and condition will be applied in terms of work timings, leaves and other obligations.

Activities included

Under the terms of the recently issued resolution, ADDED has identified 48 economic activities that can be practiced with a freelancer licence, including fashion design, clothing, natural and aesthetic flowers arrangement, photography studio, event photography, videography, event management, gift packaging, jewellery design, web design, project design and management services, translation, calligraphy, drawing, statistical consultations, agricultural guidance and marketing operations management.

The freelancer licence also covers consultation activities in areas of computer hardware and software, real estate, legal consultancy, public relations, standardisation and quality management, pest control, project development, procurement, technical installations, green buildings, information technology, economic feasibility studies, human resources, tourism, heritage, entertainment, administrative studies, food safety, goods designs, fine art, architectural drawings, and maritime services.

In addition, consultations related to lifestyle development, marketing studies, parliamentary studies, banking and marketing services in the fields of energy, space and logistical consultations, fitness, art works, sculpting, handicrafts, printing services, photocopying, gardening and landscaping, printing on textiles or clothes, plastering, engraving, decoration and soap-making can be practiced with the licence.

GULF NEWS – With inputs from WAM

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The 13-minute film will be displayed on one of the largest cinema screens across the country. Upon arrival to SZDLC, visitors will have opportunity to see a creative artwork that represents the Emirati environment, its transformation from a desert into a great haven and celebrates the capital’s rich biological diversity. The film will be filled with the best sound effects and fine visual details, which take the viewer’s gaze. 

Muneera Jasem Al Housani, Director Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center in Al Ain Zoo, said: “Situated in the heart of Al Ain Zoo, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre is an important educational facility since its establishment in 2016 that combines knowledge and learning through interactive exhibits, multimedia and visual materials. SZDLC organizes various activities and programs that attract different segments of society regardless of their interests and specializations.” 

She added: “Visitors will be able to watch the film throughout the day as per the schedule in the Centre. SZDLC has achieved the five pearl rating of the Estidama Pearl Rating System (PRS) in the design phase and received a LEED Platinum certification. The Centre accommodates 258 persons with four places designed specially for people of determination and a screen with 4K technology. As part of the Centre’s efforts and preventive measures against the pandemic, and to ensure the health and safety of all visitors, the maximum number of visitors allowed to access the threatre will be 53.” 

Visitors at SZDLC will be able to view all film scenes live on ground through five interactive galleries, which are designed by world-class experts to be among one of most significant tourist destinations that attracts visitors of all ages and ensures providing them a true picture of the United Arab Emirates natural, cultural and historical environment. 

 It is worth mentioning that Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre includes two other theaters in addition to the main theater. The Sustainability Theater, which introduces the visitor to the importance of preserving the environment and reaffirms Sheikh Zayed’s vision and his confident outlook towards the future. The second theater is the Desert Dynamic Theater that takes the visitor on a journey into the nature of the Emirates with its distinct details and sheds the light on Abu Dhabi’s rich biodiversity that has a wide variety of plants and animals.

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Do not move a victim unless the situation demands so.

Be careful not to aggravate the injury. For example, moving a victim can cause more harm if they have a spinal or neck injury or are bleeding excessively.

If anyone is hurt and requires an ambulance, dial 999 and an operator will assist you.

Only administer first aid if you are qualified to do so.

Notify the police immediately, and be honest when providing accident details.

If in an accident where both vehicles can be driven, they should be moved to the side of the road to avoid holding up traffic.

The traffic police will arrive, evaluate the crash and fill out the Accident Form.

A copy of the Accident Form will be given to both individuals involved in the crash. You will need to take the form to your insurance company to proceed with vehicle repair.

When there are injuries involved please excercise extreme care.

Do not move a victim unless the situation demands so.

Be careful not to aggravate the injury. For example, moving a victim can cause more harm if they have a spinal or neck injury or are bleeding excessively.

If anyone is hurt and requires an ambulance, dial 999 and an operator will assist you.

Only administer first aid if you are qualified to do so.

Notify the police immediately, and be honest when providing accident details.

If in an accident where both vehicles can be driven, they should be moved to the side of the road to avoid holding up traffic.

The traffic police will arrive, evaluate the crash and fill out the Accident Form.

A copy of the Accident Form will be given to both individuals involved in the crash. You will need to take the form to your insurance company to proceed with vehicle repair.

Guidance in Case of Vehicle Breakdown

Road Service Patrol is a new service launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport in coordination with Abu Dhabi Police. The service is free of charge and can be reached 24 hours a day on the toll free number 999. This service includes following:

Towing cars in case of auto failure from the main road and moving them to safer locations to ensure the safety of drivers and the smooth flow of traffic.

Offering services such as changing tyres, identifying flat battery, jumpstarting and topping up fuel and coolant if needed, to enable vehicles to reach the closest petrol station in the vicinity.

Providing first aid to accident victims and assisting the police and other related parties involved.

In case your vehicle breaks down you must:

Move the vehicle off the road to make sure your vehicle is not a hazard to other road users.

Turn on hazard lights to warn approaching drivers.

Get out of the vehicle and stand well away from the carriageway.

If it is dark, keep your parking lights/side lights on Call 999 to access Road Service Petrol.

You must use either spotlights or a three dimensional warning triangle when parking at night, if the road is not equipped with streetlights or the visibility is poor (Article 64, UAE Federal Traffic Law Number 21, 1995).

Reference: The Official

Road User Code

of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

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