Staying outside the UAE for more than six months will henceforth, result in automatic cancellation of residence visas and expatriates will then have to obtain new visas to re-enter the country, a senior official at the Interior Ministry in Dubai announced.

The Director General of Dubai Department for Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, said that as per the Federal Residency Law, the residence permit granted to a foreigner will be deemed as cancelled if their stay outside the UAE exceeds six months.

This is the new rule and no body can try to enter the country without a valid residence visa. This rule is being implemented strictly and expatriates with valid residence visas can re-enter the country by filling out a form at the airport, he clarified.

The Ministry will strictly adhere to this rule henceforth at all entry points in the country. However, there are few exemptions to this rule, wherein people under specific circumstances will be permitted to enter the country, even if their stay exceeded six months abroad, he revealed.

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