Dubai residents stuck abroad have six-month visa extension

Residents from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Uganda will have valid visas until November

A passenger waits at the drop-off point at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India.

Security personnel check the identity card of a man before allowing him inside Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers from the UK arrive at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.

A health worker takes swab sample of a passenger arriving from the UK at Anna International Airport in Chennai.

Passengers wait at the drop-off point at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers have their luggage checked before entering Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

A woman waits for her luggage to be disinfected at the drop-off point before entering Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers queue at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Dubai residents who are unable to return from abroad due to flight restrictions will have their residence visas extended by six months.

Flydubai said people from six countries were eligible for the move, referencing a decision by Dubai's immigration authority.

The airline said the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs gave the extension to people from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Uganda. At present, only residents – not tourists or jobseekers – from those countries are allowed to travel to the Emirates.

People from those countries will be allowed back into the UAE on their extended residence visa until November 10, as long as their original visa expired after April 10.

The immigration department confirmed the announcement, adding that it is open to all residents - as long as their residency visa was not "cancelled at the request of the sponsor".

"GDRFA-Dubai will extend the residency visa and the expiry date will become (9/11/2021)," it said in a statement to The National.

"In addition, when the stranded resident enters the country, the system will give him/her a period of 30 days from the date of entry to change his/her status and renew their visas."

Restrictions were eased this month when UAE residents who were stranded in countries on the banned list were allowed to return. Despite a rush to return in recent weeks, many thousands remain abroad because of problems with coronavirus testing and flights.