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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? UAE immigration offices will be closed for a four-day weekend, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, as the country observes UAE National Day.
What does the change mean? Offices will reopen Dec. 4. Applicants should account for the closure and expect delays.
Background: UAE National Day is a national holiday celebrated on Dec. 2 to commemorate the federal unification of the seven emirates. In observance of the holiday, nationwide celebrations and government office closures are planned.
Analysis & Comments: In addition to the immigration office closures, applicants should check holiday observances for embassies and consulates, as they may vary depending on location. Employers should anticipate delays and submit applications before the holidays if possible.
Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.
The United Arab Emirates has unveiled two new policies aimed at strengthening the economy by encouraging local employment while attracting and retaining wealthy expatriates.
Analysis & Comments: The changes come among a raft of reforms aimed at spurring economic growth during the current slump. The Emiratization pilot program will provide private-sector job opportunities for locals, especially the UAE’s growing youth population, as public-sector opportunities are currently limited. The longer-validity residency for older expatriates may enable mainland companies to attract foreigners who contribute to the economy.
What is the change? The United Arab Emirates has agreed to visa-free travel arrangements with Mexico and Serbia.
What does the change mean? Nationals of the UAE will be permitted to travel to Mexico and Serbia without obtaining a visa in advance. Likewise, nationals of Mexico and Serbia will be permitted to travel to the UAE without first needing to obtain a visa.
The UAE and Serbia added an amendment to the original passport protocol agreement signed in 2014 that extends visa-free travel to Serbian nationals. The UAE and Mexico exchanged a diplomatic memorandum of understanding on visa exemption in September, and the agreement went into effect Oct. 31.
Background: The UAE and Serbia previously signed a visa-free agreement for Emirati nationals holding diplomatic or official passports to enter Serbia without a visa in 2014. This was later amended to allow UAE nationals holding regular passports to enter. The new amendment will extend the visa-free agreement to Serbian nationals. This year, the UAE has agreed to visa-free travel deals with China, Ireland, Paraguay, Russia and Uruguay and implemented visa-free travel deals with Brazil and Ukraine.
Analysis & Comments: The visa waiver will facilitate business travel between Mexico and the UAE and between Serbia and the UAE.
What is the change? The UAE has put new restrictions on female applicants seeking to sponsor their children for residence visas.
What does the change mean? Only women who are widowed or divorced, or whose husband’s monthly salary is less than 4,000 dirhams are eligible to sponsor their children’s residence visas. This rule does not apply to female employees who already sponsor their husband’s residence visa.
Analysis & Comments: The policy is currently in place in Dubai and is likely to be applied in the other emirates. Employers whose expatriate employees are affected by the new policy should work with their immigration advisor to find alternatives.
What is the change? The United Arab Emirates and Paraguay have signed a visa-free travel agreement.
What does the change mean? Nationals of the UAE and Paraguay will be permitted to travel to each other’s country without obtaining a visa in advance.
Background: The visa-free travel arrangement between the UAE and Paraguay was agreed to in April when Paraguay extended its visas-on-arrival program to UAE nationals. Since the new year, the UAE has agreed to visa-free travel deals with China, Ireland, Russia, and Uruguay and implemented visa-free travel deals with Brazil and Ukraine.
Analysis & Comments: The visa waiver will facilitate business travel between the two countries. The UAE has actively pursued visa exemptions this year, and the number of countries allowing UAE nationals to enter without a visa now exceeds157, according to the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
What is the change? The United Arab Emirates has waived visa requirements for Russian nationals.
What does the change mean? Russian nationals will be able to travel to the UAE without first obtaining a visa for up to 30 days for business or tourism. Russia is in the process of waiving its visa requirement for UAE nationals.
Background: The UAE and Russia inked the agreement in July, when the UAE sent a delegation to meet with Russian officials. Russian nationals may now visit the UAE without first obtaining a visa for up to 30 days, extendable for an additional 30 days while in the UAE.
Russia is moving toward implementing visa-free travel for UAE nationals. A statement posted to the Russian Embassy’s website says the agreement states it will go “into force after 30 days (after the required) internal procedures are accomplished by Russia and UAE, which has not happened yet. The procedures themselves and their timing may vary from one country to another.”
BAL Analysis: The visa waiver will make it easier for Russian nationals to visit the UAE for business or tourism. The UAE has actively pursued visa exemptions, and has recently implemented visa-free travel agreements with Chile, China, Ireland, Switzerland, Uruguay and Ukraine. The number of countries allowing UAE nationals to enter without a visa now exceeds 155.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
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What is the change? The United Arab Emirates has opened a three-month amnesty period for foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or are otherwise in the country illegally.
What does the change mean? Those who are seeking amnesty can either leave the country or regularize their status between now and Oct. 31. Those who choose to leave will be given exit permits valid for 10 days and will not be assessed fines. Those who wish to regularize their status will be eligible for six-month visas that will allow them to remain in the UAE and look for work. Former residents can also take advantage of the program and apply for visas during the amnesty period even if they were assessed an entry ban for previous immigration violations.
Background: The amnesty period, opened by officials Aug. 1, has already proved popular. Those who take advantage of the amnesty period to leave the UAE will have any fines against them waived, but will be assessed a two-year entry ban. Those who remain in the UAE after regularizing their status will be eligible for six-month visas that will allow them to look for work and register on the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization’s portal, although there is no guarantee that a job will be provided. Amnesty tents have been set up in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and foreign nationals in other emirates can take advantage of the program by visiting their emirate’s main immigration office.
BAL Analysis: The amnesty could potentially allow tens of thousands of foreign nationals to regularize their status, obtain six-month visas and look for work. It also exempts foreign nationals from overstay fines or previously assessed entry bans. Companies or individuals with questions about how the amnesty program works should contact BAL.
What is the change? The UAE has announced Eid al-Adha holiday dates for government and private offices.
What does the change mean? Government offices will close for the holiday for a full seven days—from Sunday through Thursday, Aug. 19-23, plus the Friday-Saturday weekend—and reopen Aug. 26. The private sector will be open Aug. 19, then will close Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 20-22, and reopen Thursday Aug. 23, subject to employer discretion. Some industries, such as banks, have announced that they will extend the holiday break through Aug. 23 and resume work Saturday, Aug. 25.
Background: Eid al-Adha, or Festival of the Sacrifice, is one of the two major Muslim holidays and marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and honors Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God. Countries across the Islamic world announce the dates based on local moon sightings or follow Saudi Arabia’s determination.
BAL Analysis: In addition to the government and private office closures, applicants should check holiday observances for embassies and consulates, as they may vary depending on location.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in the United Arab Emirates. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates are expected to implement extended visas to attract top international talent, including scientists, engineers, doctors, investors and university graduates.
Key points:
Additional information: The package of visa reforms was approved by the UAE Cabinet in May and June and is awaiting implementation by relevant authorities.
BAL Analysis: The changes will help the UAE retain highly qualified experts and investors. Students, who currently lose their student status upon graduation, will also be able to remain in the country to seek work or other opportunities. The changes are expected to be implemented before the end of the year and employers should anticipate some processing delays as the government introduces several major reforms.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network partner Sesam Business Consultants in the United Arab Emirates. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) is offering 24-hour processing of work and residence visas for 7,500 companies employing 150,000 employees in Jafza and National Industries Park (NIP).
What does the change mean? The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs reached an agreement with JAFZA to provide the streamlined electronic via its recently upgraded digital system.
Background: Even prior to this announcement, the move to online immigration systems in Dubai meant that free zone visas could typically be approved within 2-3 working days. JAFZA is going a step further in putting into place an agreement to allow its visas to be processed within 24 hours. This comes after a recently announced UAE policy change that will allow entities that are 100-percent foreign-owned to operate on the mainland. Under current policy, companies that are wholly foreign-owned may operate in the free zones, but mainland companies must be partly owned by a local entity or partner.
BAL Analysis: As free zones seek to maintain their competitiveness with mainland companies and with other free zones, it is expected that 24-hour visa approval is likely to spread to other free zones and become the norm across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This has been made even easier as the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs has set up immigration offices dedicated to each free zone. Visa stamping, however, will continue to take longer, as it is dependent upon the completion of in-country processes as well as evidence of valid health insurance.