The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai has launched a special farewell sticker for foreign citizens leaving the UAE. Dubai Media Office on Twitter
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai has launched a special farewell sticker for foreign citizens leaving the UAE. Dubai Media Office on Twitter
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai has launched a special farewell sticker for foreign citizens leaving the UAE. Dubai Media Office on Twitter
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai has launched a special farewell sticker for foreign citizens leaving the UAE. Dubai Media Office on Twitter

'We'll meet soon': farewell message being placed in passports of those flying out of Dubai

Departing passengers receive special 'Have a safe flight... We’ll meet soon' sticker on their document

Katy Gillett
Katy Gillett

April 13, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Since commercial flights around the world ceased amid the coronavirus outbreak, thousands of people have been stranded.

As repatriation flights have been approved, people are now flying out of Dubai International Airport and immigration officials are giving travellers a nice send-off by sticking a warm message in their passports.

The farewell sticker campaign for departing foreign citizens was launched by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.

The message “Have a safe flight… We’ll meet soon” is being placed on the passports of people who have been stranded in Dubai due to the recent flight suspensions.

The message to passengers reads 'Have a safe flight... We'll meet soon'. Dubai Media Office on Twitter
The message to passengers reads 'Have a safe flight... We'll meet soon'. Dubai Media Office on Twitter

Passenger flights in and out of the UAE were suspended at midnight on Wednesday, March 25. The move was designed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by air travel.

On Thursday, April 2 it was announced that local airlines had reopened bookings for special passenger repatriation services to select destinations.

Emirates is currently operating flights from Dubai to London, Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich, although strict policies are in place to ensure travellers and crew follow physical distancing regulations in the air. On Monday, the airline also announced it will operate new flights to Jakarta, Manila, Taipei, Chicago and Kabul.

The Dubai airline is advising passengers to check requirements for their destination country on the International Air Transport Association’s website before booking.

_________________

Take a look through this photo gallery of people returning home from Dubai Airport:

  • A health worker checks the body temperature of passengers bound for Frankfurt at Dubai International Airport.
    A health worker checks the body temperature of passengers bound for Frankfurt at Dubai International Airport.
  • Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport.
    Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport.
  • Passengers bound for Frankfurt board a shuttle bus at Dubai International Airport.
    Passengers bound for Frankfurt board a shuttle bus at Dubai International Airport.
  • A flydubai aircraft is parked on the tarmac of Dubai International Airport.
    A flydubai aircraft is parked on the tarmac of Dubai International Airport.
  • Passengers check in at Dubai International Airport.
    Passengers check in at Dubai International Airport.
  • An information board displays an alert for passengers to maintain distance from others at Dubai International Airport.
    An information board displays an alert for passengers to maintain distance from others at Dubai International Airport.
  • Mask-clad passengers bound for Frankfurt walk past check-in counters at Dubai International Airport.
    Mask-clad passengers bound for Frankfurt walk past check-in counters at Dubai International Airport.
  • A mask-clad employee walks in front of a flydubai aircraft on the tarmac of Dubai International Airport.
    A mask-clad employee walks in front of a flydubai aircraft on the tarmac of Dubai International Airport.
  • Passengers bound for Frankfurt wait at a terminal of Dubai International Airport.
    Passengers bound for Frankfurt wait at a terminal of Dubai International Airport.
  • Passengers bound for Frankfurt wait at a terminal of Dubai International Airport.
    Passengers bound for Frankfurt wait at a terminal of Dubai International Airport.
  • Passengers bound for Frankfurt wait at a terminal of Dubai International Airport.
    Passengers bound for Frankfurt wait at a terminal of Dubai International Airport.
  • Passengers wait at a terminal at Dubai International Airport, as Emirates resumed a limited number of outbound passenger flights.
    Passengers wait at a terminal at Dubai International Airport, as Emirates resumed a limited number of outbound passenger flights.
  • An Emirates aircraft takes off from Dubai International Airport.
    An Emirates aircraft takes off from Dubai International Airport.
  • Emirates Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport as the airline resumed a limited number of outbound passenger flights.
    Emirates Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport as the airline resumed a limited number of outbound passenger flights.
  • Passengers are assisted at the check-in counter in a terminal at Dubai International Airport.
    Passengers are assisted at the check-in counter in a terminal at Dubai International Airport.
  • Passengers have their travel documents checked before departure at Dubai International Airport.
    Passengers have their travel documents checked before departure at Dubai International Airport.
  • Passengers have their travel documents checked before departure at Dubai International Airport.
    Passengers have their travel documents checked before departure at Dubai International Airport.

_________________

Etihad is taking a similar approach, and is currently offering repatriation flights from the capital to Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, London, Manila, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Jakarta, Melbourne and Zurich.

The special flights, which started on Sunday, April 5, are one-way only. On return journeys, the airlines have been repatriating Emirati citizens stuck abroad, and bringing in cargo and fresh produce.

Regular passenger flights from the UAE remain suspended as per a directive from the General Civil Aviation Authority.

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

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