UAE facilitates return of nearly 500 Golden Visa holders, stranded residents from abroad

[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]

The UAE has announced that it will facilitate the return of nearly 500 Golden Visa holders, as well as stranded residents, from foreign countries back to the Emirates.

On Sunday, March 15 — the 16th day of the Iran war — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced that they would jointly continue to ease the return of these individuals, whose journeys were affected by airspace closures and flight disruptions.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels.

The residents are being brought back to the country through both land and air points.

Earlier, on Saturday, the ministry announced that around 6,000 citizens had returned to the UAE with the help of the relevant authorities.

From the very beginning of the conflict, UAE authorities have been equipped to deal with the disruptions, taking necessary measures such as:

• Continuously coordinating with UAE's diplomatic missions abroad

• Monitoring ongoing developments and assessing impact

• Updating plans regularly in line with the evolving situation

These measures have allowed the safe return of thousands of UAE's residents, even among the regional conflict and airspace closures.

Mofa and NCEMA have reiterated that the safety and security of citizens, residents, and visitors remain among the UAE’s top priorities.