Residents who traveled abroad for emergencies, family care, or studies say the decision has eased concerns about losing their UAE residency amid flight disruptions.
For weeks, Maviya Shilur had been constantly checking airline websites and tracking every update on flights to the UAE. The Dubai-based mobile technician had traveled to India in February after an urgent call that his father was hospitalized, planning to stay only a few days before returning to work.
The situation changed when flights were disrupted and several services were cancelled.
“My visa was due to expire in about a month and a half, and I had planned to renew it once I returned to Dubai,” said Maviya, who has worked in the UAE for nearly eight years. “But after my flights were cancelled twice, I became really worried that I wouldn’t be able to return before my visa expired.”
He said he spent several days following news updates and coordinating with his employer in Dubai while waiting for travel options to reopen.
“When I heard about the grace period, it was a huge relief. Now I just hope I can secure a confirmed ticket and return soon.”
Maviya is among many UAE residents abroad who welcomed the temporary measure, which eased fears after travel disruptions left them uncertain about their residency status.
Authorities announced a one-month grace period starting February 28, allowing residents whose visas expired while they were outside the UAE to return without applying for a new entry permit.
The measure was introduced after airspace closures and flight suspensions during the recent regional conflict prevented some residents from returning before their visas expired. It applies to residents abroad whose residency permits expired on or after February 28 and who were unable to return due to travel disruptions.
Affected residents can re-enter the UAE until March 31, and once back, they can regularize their residency status without incurring fines.
For Amr Hasan, an Egyptian resident of Sharjah, the concern was about his family rather than himself. In January, he had sent his wife and two children to Alexandria so she could care for her ageing parents.
Amr’s father-in-law had undergone a heart procedure in October, and doctors advised rest and home support. The plan was for his wife to stay about four months and return in early March.
“We thought she would come back after her father recovered,” said Hasan, who works in a logistics company in Sharjah. “But when flights started getting disrupted, we worried her residency visa could expire if she stayed abroad too long.”
According to Hasan, his wife has been helping her mother manage the household while her father recovers.
“She has been assisting with hospital visits and daily needs,” he said. “But at the same time, we were constantly concerned about the visa situation.”
The announced grace period has now given the family peace of mind.
“At least now we know she can return without complications within this month,” Hasan added.
Students studying abroad have also been closely monitoring developments.
For Sharjah resident Faisal Nasser, the concern was his son Amin Faisal, 21, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Amin holds a UAE residency visa through his father and had planned a short visit to Dubai earlier this month to maintain visa validity.
“His residence visa is expiring on March 15, so he booked a ticket to travel to the UAE on March 2,” said Nasser. “But due to airspace closures and flight disruptions, he couldn’t travel.”
The approaching deadline caused the family significant worry.
“We were checking flights and news updates daily. With only a few days left before the visa expired, we were anxious that he might face fines or lose his residency status,” Nasser said.
He added that the grace period announcement has brought relief.
“At least now we know there is a solution if he cannot travel immediately. It has taken away a lot of stress for us.”
