The United Arab Emirates have officially ended the 30-day temporary visa grace period introduced to help travellers who were affected by regional flight delays. The special relief measure ended on the 9th July. This means that eligible visitors who were exempted from visa requirements must either leave the UAE or comply with the standard visa regulations.
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security announced the temporary grace period after regional exceptional circumstances caused widespread flight cancelations and airspace disruptions, which prevented many visitors and UAE residents from departing the UAE in time. The government waived temporary fines for overstaying and gave travellers additional time to update their visa status or leave legally.
The UAE authorities confirmed that this exceptional measure of relief has now ended. The UAE authorities have confirmed that the exceptional relief measure has ended.
According to ICP, this 30-day grace period was from 10 June to 9 July . It only applied to those who were previously exempted because they could not leave the UAE as a result of extraordinary regional travel disruptions. This measure was not meant to be a blanket extension for all visa holders, but rather a targeted aid for those who were directly affected by these exceptional circumstances.
Experts in immigration have advised that visitors should check their visa status immediately to avoid staying in the country if they do not have permission. If you wish to extend your stay, contact the relevant authorities or visa sponsors to find out what options are available. Travellers planning to depart should make sure their departure arrangements meet UAE immigration requirements.
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As regional travel conditions continue their normalisation, the end of temporary relief signals a return to standard UAE immigration. The authorities have encouraged affected travellers to adhere to the visa regulations in order to avoid penalties, and to maintain a clean immigration record.
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