A new initiative from the media office enhances transparency and prevents rumors
Dubai government opens communication channels between officials and the public
Al-Marri during his interaction with the questions of the public and the media. From the source
Dubai Government Media Office announced the launch of the #AskDXBOfficial initiative to respond to media professionals and public questions addressed to officials in the Dubai government, with the aim of opening the doors of officials to receive inquiries and answer questions related to the challenges of the repercussions of the "Covid-19" crisis, and to create a reliable reference for answering public inquiries, without leaving A room for doubt or for spreading rumors and false news about the new laws and regulatory procedures that Dubai announces to residents, giving the media the ability to play its indispensable role as an active and influential partner in times of crisis.
As part of its first meeting, the initiative raised dozens of questions addressed to the Director General of the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, Major General Muhammad Al-Marri, about some of the procedures related to holders of Dubai residency permits, and the decisions related to extending the validity of residency permits for those outside the country, in addition to some questions related to fines resulting from the delay in issuing An ID card, and dozens of other important questions that concern a wide audience.
The Director of Strategic Communication at the Media Office of the Government of Dubai, Alia Al-Dheeb, confirmed that the initiative aims to enhance transparency and create renewed channels of communication between Dubai government institutions and the public, and to keep residents and visitors informed of the latest developments and decisions issued related to travel and residence procedures and precautionary measures in light of the current circumstances that require clarification. The implications of developments related to the "Covid-19" pandemic and the new measures announced in Dubai after the reopening of airports and receiving tourists and visitors to and from Dubai through its airports.
Al-Dheeb explained that government communication is a major part of the office’s strategy and one of its important components, as it is a main channel of communication between the public, in its various segments, and between government agencies and their officials, in order to ensure the highest standards of transparency and accuracy of information, stressing that “the initiative comes within the framework of the endeavors aimed at Enhancing communication capabilities in Dubai, and confirming the delivery of the message in an optimal manner in various situations, and at all times, as it represents a qualitative addition to those efforts, with their positive impact that ensures the consolidation of the concept of creative media work, and the adoption of initiatives that establish a new phase of internal and external government communication.
She indicated that the questions and answers posed within the initiative could be followed up through the office's official accounts on social media. It called on those wishing to inquire about organizational decisions and precautionary measures related to travel and residence procedures and other precautionary measures related to the repercussions of Covid-19, to put their inquiries on the official account of the office on «Twitter» under the hashtag #AskDXBOfficial, to deliver them to the concerned parties and answer them from officials in government agencies in Dubai. Emphasizing the need to obtain information from reliable media sources, and not to be led by rumors and inaccurate and inaccurate information on social media.
Within the set of questions addressed to Major General Muhammad Al-Marri, a question about passenger traffic at Dubai airports currently, and he answered that passenger traffic through Dubai airports is constantly increasing, and is witnessing a daily increase of 5% in the number of travelers coming to Dubai, pointing out that current indicators confirm the proximity The return of air traffic through Dubai airports to its previous state at the end of this year, and the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs is working with all parties at Dubai airports to raise these promising rates.
He also answered a question about procedures related to Gulf residents trying to return to the country, explaining that "there is no objection to returning Gulf residents to the country in the event there are scheduled flights between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the airports of the United Arab Emirates."
Regarding the fines imposed on people who lost their jobs and were forced to remain in the UAE due to the suspension of air traffic in their countries, he explained that “the Humanitarian Cases Section at the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs is concerned with handling these cases, and it deals with each case individually and on a humanitarian basis. Accordingly, the required facilities are provided for this category until their return to their countries, and their return again to the UAE whenever they are summoned by their previous employers or other employers.
Al-Marri also affirmed that residents of Dubai receive, according to the permit given to them, the facilities required to enter Dubai from all the country's airports.
In another question to Al-Marri, about the possibility of renewing the residency of a person over sixty years old, he replied that granting or renewing residency depends on his health and physical fitness, and the extent of his eligibility for the field of work in case he wished to obtain a work permit, stressing that the administration does not object to anyone over sixty One year of residency if he meets the required conditions.
Regarding the possibility of allowing the holder of an expired residency that was automatically extended until the end of the year to leave the country and return to the same residence, he replied that people whose residency has expired and who are inside the country are not entitled to travel until after new residency is confirmed, and this procedure is a prerequisite for their ability to return to the Emirates.
Al-Marri stressed that the return of people who have a valid residency visa but have been outside the country for more than six months is related to the country from which they are coming, and if its airports are open towards the Emirates, there is no objection to his return after taking the required precautions, the most important of which is a pre-examination of "Covid-19" and entering the official website of the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, to apply and obtain a pre-departure permit and enter Dubai airports.
On the tourist visas that were issued before the "Covid-19" crisis, Al-Marri explained that the administration is constantly coordinating with the tourism companies to provide the required facilities and find optimal solutions for those obtaining visas, whether those were issued before the pandemic or with the beginning of the spread of the Corona virus, pointing out that Options include returning visa holders on subsequent trips, or booking other tourism programs.
He stressed that the waiting for this group will not be long, given the strong indications of the return of tourism activity to Dubai, and the movement of the number of tourist groups coming to it before the end of the year.
Regarding the conditions for approving a return permit for residents, and the extent of the validity of the news that spoke about granting approval for certain professions or jobs without others, he confirmed that all residents are eligible to return to the UAE, but there are some sponsored residents of companies and commercial establishments, and when the person with this job decides Or the profession to return to the Emirates, the company must apply for the return of the sponsored persons before it, confirming that a large number of companies have already submitted such requests and have been approved, and these employees are currently at the top of their work.
He also answered a question from a media person about the possibility of a rejection of a family member’s request to return, and the procedures that the family must follow in this case, stressing that families wishing to return to Dubai need only one permit that includes family members from the father, mother, children and groups The accompanying assistance, pointing out that the reason why some members of the same family did not obtain the consent to return may be related to a defect in entering data correctly. He explained that the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai deals with the auxiliary groups as part of the family in the event that they return with the family, but if this category is present in its home country, and wants to return separately from the family to the UAE, then the employer must submit a request for the return. This class has to work a second time.
Sponsorship of parents
In a question directed by a follower on the Twitter account of the Dubai Government Media Office, in which he asked about the conditions for submitting a request to issue a residence permit for his elderly mother, who has no breadwinner. Major General Muhammad Al-Marri indicated that there are specific conditions for those who wish to sponsor one of the parents, and when the conditions are met by the sponsor, there is no objection to issuing residency to the parents together, or one of them separately, pointing out that the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs has set the toll-free number 8005111 to answer all inquiries directed Her from the audience.
He answered a question directed to him by a resident outside the UAE, wondering about the solutions provided to people who had previously obtained a permit to return to Dubai, but were unable to leave the country in which he is located due to the airport closure, explaining that the traveler must re-apply once Others When is the airport reopened in the country or city in which it is located? In answering this question, he affirmed that these exceptional cases will obtain immediate approval, based on their previous obtaining of the required permit.
In his answer to a question he was asked about whether obtaining an approval to return to the UAE requires obtaining a ticket through Emirates Airlines and flydubai exclusively, or tickets can be purchased from other airlines, he said that all airlines operating at airports Dubai has the right to return its passengers to the United Arab Emirates, and it has the right to provide the facilities required to obtain return permits for its customers. The General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs welcomes all those wishing to return on board the airlines dealing with Dubai airports.
Major General Mohammed Al-Marri:
• «Current indicators confirm the return of air traffic through Dubai airports to its previous state by the end of this year.
• «There is no objection to the return of Gulf residents to the country in the event that there are scheduled flights between their countries and the UAE airports.
• “Residents of Dubai receive, according to the permit given to them, the facilities required to enter from any airport in the country.”
Alia Al-Deeb:
• «The initiative ensures the consolidation of the concept of media work, and the adoption of tools that establish a new phase of government communication.
• “Government communication is a key part of the Dubai Government Media Office’s strategy, and one of its important components.”
• 5% daily increase in the number of travelers coming to Dubai.