Whether you are a UAE resident with a visa renewal date coming up, or travelling to the UAE for work, business, or leisure, you can easily verify the visa status online.
There are several visas in the Emirates that allow foreigners to visit, work and live in the country. Short-term visas are available for visitors, which range from one month to six, depending on the reason for the trip.
Work visas paid for by employers usually expire in two years, while self-sponsored remote work visas must be renewed annually. Validity for the special green, blue and golden visas range from five to 10 years and these are self-sponsored.
Existing residence visas or entry permits
For visas or entry permits issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah, you can check the status on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).
The 'Public Services' dashboard has an option on the top right marked 'File Validity'. Click on that if you already have a visa or entry permit.
On the page, select the option 'Passport' to enter your passport number and expiry date in the appropriate fields. Here you can also select the kind of visa you have, using either the option 'Residency' or the 'Visa' option for non-residents or visitors.
If you have a Dubai-issued residence visa, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA) – has a page dedicated to checking visa status. The homepage of the website has an option titled 'Visa Status' which will lead you to the tracking service. You need to have the UAE visa file number, first name and date of birth.
The file number is available on the visa sticker on residents’ passports. You can also download or print a digital version of this document to obtain the file number if your passport does not have the sticker.
Checking application status
The above steps only apply to people who already have a visa or entry permit. If your application is still pending, you can check that using the reference details of the application.
The same rules apply in terms of where the visa application was filed – ICP for applications in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah, and GDRFA for Dubai visa applications.
On ICP, select 'Application Tracking' on the 'Public Services' dashboard where you can use the email address used for the application and the request number. For Dubai visas, the same status-tracking service can be used and you need the application reference, transaction number and payment date.
If your visa request has gone through a service provider or a prospective employer, you can check the status if you have these details.
Are there fines for overstaying?
The UAE has standardised fines for those with expired tourist and residency visas.
Fines of Dh50 are levied for each a day a person overstays on their visa.
“The new system unified the amount of overstay fines to Dh50 [$13] per day for any type of visa violator,” said an ICP representative.
You can contact the respective authorities using their customer service numbers. ICP has a toll-free line at 600 522222. You can contact GDRFA Dubai through its customer service number 800 5111 or head to the nearest Amer centre.
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
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