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.
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.
The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
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'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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Easter%20Sunday
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Naga
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Janet Yellen's Firsts
- In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve
- In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
The%20specs
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Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
Company%20Profile
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Stage 2 results
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 04:18:18
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04
4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates
5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation
General Classification
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16
4 Nikolai Cherkasov (RUS) Gazprom-Rusvelo 00:00:17
5 Alexey Lutsensko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 00:00:19
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Race card
4pm Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m
5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections:
4pm Zabardast
4.35pm Ibn Malik
5.10pm Space Blues
5.45pm Kimbear
6.20pm Barney Roy
6.55pm Matterhorn
7.30pm Defoe
On racial profiling at airports
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
