#AskDXBOfficial: Dubai GDRFA chief responds to travel and visa queries

All residents holding a valid residency visa are allowed to return to Dubai through any UAE airport, once they get a GDRFA permit and a negative PCR test result.

That's according to Major General Mohammed Al Marri, Director-General of Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) who was responding to people's queries as part of the #AskDxbOfficial initiative, launched by Dubai Media Office.

He said even residents with expired visas can return as long as there are no flight restrictions between the UAE and the country they are in. 

However, Al Marri clarified that expired visa holders who are currently in the UAE cannot leave and return with old visas.

He added that in certain cases, companies will have to apply for the return permit on behalf of their employees, but he did not specify the category of workers or employers for this.

هل هناك شروط ومعايير للموافقة على تصاريح العودة للمقيمين؟ أو هل يتم الموافقة على مهن دون أخرى؟

Is there any criteria for approving a return permit for #Dubai residents?#AskDXBOfficial@GDRFADUBAI pic.twitter.com/EC8pPLmdw5

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 22, 2020

إقامتي سارية المفعول ولكنني متواجد خارج الدولة منذ أكثر من 6 أشهر، هل يمكنني العودة متى أشاء أو أحتاج إلى إجراءات معينة؟

I have a valid residency visa, but I have been outside the #UAE for more than 6 months. What steps do I need to take to return?#AskDXBOfficial@GDRFADUBAI pic.twitter.com/AABLY7C2Ht

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 22, 2020

هل يقتصر الحصول على الموافقة للعودة إلى الدولة لمن يسافرون عبر طيران الإمارات وفلاي دبي؟ أم يمكن شراء التذاكر من شركات طيران أخرى؟

Can we only fly on Emirates & flydubai to obtain approval to enter & exit Dubai, or can we book on other airlines?#AskDXBOfficial@GDRFADUBAI pic.twitter.com/9dbkZp1ska

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 22, 2020

Responding to a question regarding people who have incurred fines after losing their jobs because of travel restrictions, Al Marri said: "To all those who have accumulated fines, please do not assume you cannot exit the country. We at Dubai Airports and GDRFA will handle each humanitarian case individually and facilitate their travel."

The GDRFA chief also revealed that the number of passengers at Dubai Airports is seeing a daily average rise of 5 per cent. He expressed hope that by the end of 2020, passenger traffic will return to levels seen at the start of the year.

The #AskDXBOfficial initiative gives the public a chance to ask questions to Dubai’s senior government officials every week.

Answers to their queries will be posted on the Government of Dubai Media Office's (GDMO) official social media platforms.

هل من الممكن أن يتم رفض طلب أحد أفراد الأسرة للعودة؟ وما هي الإجراءات الواجب على الأسرة اتباعها في هذه الحالة؟

If a family applies for a family permit, but some members are rejected, how do you deal with such cases?#AskDXBOfficial@GDRFADUBAI pic.twitter.com/KPiTRKyOjI

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 22, 2020

في حال حصول المقيم على تصريح للعودة إلى الدولة من الإدارة العامة للإقامة وشؤون الأجانب بدبي، هل يمكنه الدخول عن طريق أبوظبي أو الشارقة؟

When UAE residents obtain a GDRFA permit to return to Dubai, is it possible to enter through Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?#AskDXBOfficial@GDRFADUBAI pic.twitter.com/XjjT2VuQ9n

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 22, 2020

ماذا عن التأشيرات السياحية التي تم إصدارها قبل كوفيد-19؟

What about tourist visas that were issued before the COVID-19 crisis?#AskDXBOfficial@GDRFADUBAI pic.twitter.com/KGlIbKvujb

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 22, 2020