Dubai: With their families separated and their jobs and businesses at stake, expats who were stranded in their homes due to COVID-19 restrictions have asked for help returning to the United Arab Emirates.
Several expats have written to Gulf News calling on the government to lift access restrictions for residents, especially those who are fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said it had raised considerations of Indian expats who stayed home with the government of the United Arab Emirates to assist in the situation.
In statements to Twitter on Thursday, the project published: “We are fully aware of the considerations of our citizens living in the United Arab Emirates and lately in India. We have raised these considerations with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are working with them on a permanent basis for success in a resolution.
The project was met by the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pavan Kapoor, India’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and the Indian Consulate in Dubai.
Residents of the United Arab Emirates raised a number of considerations, considerations on loss of tasks, difficulty paying expenses and renewal of rentals in the United Arab Emirates, and some also lost their dose of vaccination at the time.
Sharjah resident Rajesh Mammayil said he had returned to Thrissur’s home in Kerala, India, when his father died of cancer on April 15. “I’m an entrepreneur who runs a small business. My wife and 3 children in the United Arab Emirates are suffering in my absence and my business is also suffering. Our maid is also trapped in India after going to her son’s wedding in Karnataka.
“We expected flights to resume from June 1, but it is unfortunate to know that flights were delayed,” he said, referring to Emirates’ announcement that India’s passenger access restrictions had been extended until 14 June.
Rajesh said he took any of the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in March and asked the government to prioritize the return of vaccinated citizens.
Another Sharjah resident, Braja Kishor Parida, said he and his wife Subhasmita Nayak had gone to the rear house in Kolkata, West Bengal, for his brother-in-law’s wedding. “My paid license is over and now I’m on un paid leave. it will be a big problem if I can’t come back soon because I have to deal with house rent, car loan and non-public loan in the United Arab Emirates. “He said his return price ticket had been cancelled twice and that he was on the hunt for the announcement of the lifting of restrictions.
“I took any of the doses of the vaccine from the United Arab Emirates while my wife had just ordered the first dose in India. I don’t think my wife stays in India any longer [until she’s vaccinated], but I’m desperate to come back,” she added. .
Raja Asad Khalid, sales manager for a structural fabric trading company in Dubai, is stranded in Islamabad, Pakistan. “I went to my house on May 10th. If I don’t come back soon, my paintings will be affected,” Raja said. who also paints in the media. ” Many Emirati visa holders stranded in Pakistan are vaccinated and need to return soon. I also ask the government to allow visa holders of residents of the United Arab Emirates who have been vaccinated to return,” he added.
The circle of relatives of Prachi Dixit, a resident of Dubai, has been divided between the United Arab Emirates and India due to restrictions. She asked for help for her husband who is trapped in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. April to care for her parents after they contracted COVID-19, two days later, the ban was imposed. Fortunately, by the grace of God, his parents recovered and he did not spread himself. It’s been over a month and everyone is in the family circle there and they need to move from home right away,” she said, referring to her and the couple’s two daughters.
“Children are missing and I’ve had a hard time handling everything myself. They see the parents of their peers from other countries return to the United Arab Emirates and wonder why their father cannot return.
She added: “No one needs a challenge for the United Arab Emirates because it’s our time at home. We urge the government to allow at least vaccinated people to return with all established precautionary measures, such as PCR testing and quarantine standards. “she’s completely vaccinated and we’ve been living here for thirteen years. “
Atique Ur Rehman, who works for a portrait company in Dubai, had been in Pakistan for two weeks to spend Eid’s vacation with his family.
“Unfortunately, the flights have stopped and I’m stuck. My return price ticket has already been cancelled twice and was rescheduled for June 17, which is not yet displayed and can be replaced as the stage evolves,” he said. . Rehman added: “There are many official and non-public commitments that I can only stay if I am there in the United Arab Emirates. The renewal of my apartment contract is also underway. The checkbook’s with me. The owner said he had to be there for renovation. If there is a vaccination requirement to travel, I do not know how I will do it because I will have to get either dose from Pakistan itself and it will delay my flight for a few weeks. I don’t know how my company would react in such a scenario. »
Some residents, who left the United Arab Emirates a few months ago, are concerned about spending the six-month era outside the country, after which their visas will be automatically invalidated.
Ejas Ahmed, director of an environmental coverage company, and his family circle had flown to Chennai, India, on December 20. “My wife, who has two businesses, wanted to spend time with her grandmother. We plan to stay for 3 to 4 months and return to Ramadan Dubai. We were destined to return on April 27. But after the announcement of flight restrictions, we couldn’t do it. “
He expressed his fear that if they cannot return until June 20, they will have spent more than six months outside the country and this will be the validity of their apartment visas in the United Arab Emirates.
“I don’t know what to do on a stage like this. Last year, travel restrictions, the government announced the extension of visa validity. There’s no such announcement this time. That’s why we hope the government will explain this and let us come back soon,” he said.
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