UAE Announces 30-Day Visa Grace Period for Travelers Affected by Iran War
JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities on Thursday announced that they would grant a 30-day grace period to allow people who cannot leave the country due to the Iran war to complete their visa status or leave without facing fines.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) introduced an amnesty on fines for staying beyond the deadline in March, after Iran launched an attack on the UAE and other Gulf states, causing widespread travel disruption.
The decision applies to financial fines that should have been imposed since February 28, when the UAE closed its airspace in response to Iran's aggression.
The exemption applies to those entering the UAE with a visit or tourist visa, exit permit holders, and residents who cancel their residency visa in preparation for departure.
ICP said the grace period was introduced on June 10 and will remain in effect until July 9, launching The National (18/6).
It said the decision was taken to give people affected by the conflict enough time to comply with the country's residency and visit visa rules.
Furthermore, the ICP explained that the visa sanctions were lifted as a humanitarian measure to provide relief to those facing "extraordinary circumstances". The instability that triggered the action has ended, the authorities added.
Previously, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority announced the resumption of full flight operations in the country on May 2.
The closure followed the United States and Israel's attack on Iran on February 28 which then led to an escalation in the Middle East region, as well as having a global impact on the world's supply chain, especially energy supplies.
This week, Washington and Tehran on Wednesday signed a tentative agreement aimed at ending their latest war and setting a 60-day framework for a broader settlement, in a deal that has halted hostilities and reopened the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
The deal was signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirming key details of the agreement.