Returning UAE residents offer tips and tell others not to give up hope


Kelly Clarke
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Residents who successfully uploaded their details into a new online portal, allowing them to return to the UAE, are encouraging others not to give up hope.

This week, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship did away with an application process that required residents stuck abroad to wait for approval before flying back to the Emirates.

Under the new system, residents should update their personal details, including their nationality, passport number and Emirates ID, on a dedicated ICA portal. Once the data is successfully submitted, they must be tested for Covid-19 at an accredited lab. When the negative result is released, the resident has 96 hours to travel to the Emirates.

The ICA said the data step was optional but residents due to return in the coming days are strongly recommending that people do this because many who do not have been unable to book flights.

I cleared my cache and browsing history, which was suggested by someone on social media, and got approved instantly

Initially, some residents reported issues when trying to enter their data. They received a message which said the authority would "consider the possibility of rescheduling your travel date after 60 days". 
However, after several attempts, Mohamed Shan, 32, said his upload was successful.
"When the official news was published on Wednesday, I tried three times to enter my details on to the portal," he said. 
"It did not work so I cleared my cache and browsing history, which was suggested by someone on social media, and got approved instantly."
Mr Shan, who works in hospitality, left the UAE for Sri Lanka on March 13 to visit his wife and family. He was planning to return to the Emirates on April 13 but was unable to fly back due to the border closures.
He said he tried four times to get approval to re-enter the country since April, but was rejected each time.

Mohamed Shan has been in Sri Lanka since March but will be flying back to the UAE soon after successfully updating his personal details on the new site. Courtesy: Mohamed Shan
Mohamed Shan has been in Sri Lanka since March but will be flying back to the UAE soon after successfully updating his personal details on the new site. Courtesy: Mohamed Shan

Abu Dhabi resident Jema Howie also received several rejection messages on Wednesday, after she attempted to upload her details on to the new ICA link.
"I tried the new procedure and it just wouldn't work," Ms Howie, from Scotland, said.
"I tried to update my information on my laptop, phone app and tablet, everything, but it didn't go through."

Ms Howie is currently in the UAE but has to travel for a medical procedure. Residents seeking to leave the country were previously told to apply for ICA approval to be allowed back into the Emirates.

"I was planning to go on a small trip for four days for medical treatment on August 16 to 21 but I just had major anxiety about getting stuck overseas because approval was needed to return," she said.
She said if her information was uploaded successfully, she would consider travelling as planned.
And on Thursday morning, after several attempts, her application was finally accepted.
Like Mr Shan and Ms Howie, EB, a 26-year-old resident who has been in the Philippines since March 8, failed to update her data on the ICA website several times on Wednesday.
But on Thursday morning, after more than five attempts, she said she received the green light.
"I got a message this morning saying 'you fulfil the requirements to enter the country, and you can proceed with the completion of your travel procedures, wishing you continued health and wellness."

The new system applies to all emirates but Dubai, which has its own immigration service and has had various exemptions related to travel and testing.

Dubai visa holders are required to apply for permission from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs before they book their flights back.

Travellers to Dubai must under go a PCR nasal swab test in their home country and show their negative test to check-in staff and when they land in Dubai.

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Roll of honour 2019-2020

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners: Dubai Hurricanes

Runners up: Bahrain

 

West Asia Premiership

Winners: Bahrain

Runners up: UAE Premiership

 

UAE Premiership

Winners: Dubai Exiles

Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes

 

UAE Division One

Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens

Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II

 

UAE Division Two

Winners: Barrelhouse

Runners up: RAK Rugby

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Squads

Australia: Finch (c), Agar, Behrendorff, Carey, Coulter-Nile, Lynn, McDermott, Maxwell, Short, Stanlake, Stoinis, Tye, Zampa

India: Kohli (c), Khaleel, Bumrah, Chahal, Dhawan, Shreyas, Karthik, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar, Pandey, Krunal, Pant, Rahul, Sundar, Umesh

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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Scoreline

Syria 1-1 Australia

Syria Al Somah 85'

Australia Kruse 40'

THE BIO

Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
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Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra

Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa

Rating: 4/5

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The%20specs
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