Coronavirus: Tens of thousands of residents return as UAE eyes jobs recovery

Diplomats and recruiters speak of cautious optimism as many people who took repatriation flights begin to return

Unemployed workers undergo medical tests before leaving Dubai for India on repatriation flights. Prior registration with the embassy or consulate is no longer required with Indian residents able to book tickets online as an air travel bubble agreement continues between the UAE and India amid the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy: Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai

More than 400,000 Indian citizens have left the UAE since travel restrictions were lifted amid the coronavirus pandemic. Officials say many were on expired visit visas or were on their annual vacation over the recent months. Pawan Singh / The National

Indian citizens wait to be repatriated in Dubai airport. Prior registration with overseas missions is no longer required with residents able to book tickets online as an air travel bubble agreement continues between the UAE and India amid the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy: Dubai Consulate General

Embassies in the UAE worked around the clock to arrange repatriation flights for citizens. Prior registration with embassies and consulates is no longer required with residents returning home able to book tickets online amid the coronavirus pandemic. Reuters

Pakistani citizens who live in Dubai line up to receive documents ahead of boarding repatriation flights in June. Registration is no longer required to fly to Pakistan and passengers can now book flights online. Reem Mohammed / The National

Pakistani citizens who live in Dubai line up to receive documents ahead of boarding repatriation flights in June. Registration is no longer required to fly to Pakistan with passengers able to book flights online six months after the UAE shut international borders to slow the coronavirus pandemic. Reem Mohammed / The National

Pakistani citizens who live in Dubai line up to receive documents ahead of boarding repatriation flights in June. Registration is no longer required to fly to Pakistan with passengers able to book flights online six months after the UAE shut international borders to slow the coronavirus pandemic. Reem Mohammed / The National

Prior registration with embassies and consulates is no longer required with residents returning to their home country able to book tickets online amid the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy Emirates

Police patrols offer free Covid-19 tests to residents in buildings in downtown Abu Dhabi during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. Victor Besa / The National

A growing number of workers  are returning to the Emirates after widespread repatriations at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hundreds of thousands of people boarded flights home in the initial months of the outbreak as businesses closed and staff were placed on unpaid leave.

Several months on, however, and a cautiously optimistic tone is being struck as the economy recovers and communities rebound from a challenging period.

Daily food drives organised from March through to June have subsided as people return to jobs in the UAE.

More than 430,000 Indians have gone home since May, along with about 80,000 Pakistanis, 40,000 Filipinos and 20,000 Bangladeshis, their embassies told The National.

We have almost 60,000 who have come back to the UAE

Not everyone who boarded planes home lost jobs, with many on expired visitor visas and others taking annual leave.

“The Indian community is the biggest and that is why it was impacted the most, especially in the first wave of the pandemic,” said Pavan Kapoor, India’s ambassador to the UAE.

Officials worked with construction and retail companies to send workers back to their home towns.

“Big companies who had 1,000 to 2,000 workers wanted to take them back,” Mr Kapoor said.

“But we have almost 60,000 who have come back to the UAE. The bulk were those stuck in India during the lockdown who got approvals to come in.”

Recruiters eye brighter times on the horizon

Recruiters said middle to senior-level positions have steadily opened up in the private and government sectors.

“The focus is definitely on niche senior roles requiring specialist skills and experience. These roles also allow us to headhunt abroad as they are willing to relocate the right candidate,” said Rebecca Drinnan, managing director of Mena Recruit, which specialises in the legal sector.

While many international law firms and multi-national companies have a recruitment freeze, she said there was an increase in positions opening up with other clients, including in the government sector.

Ms Drinnan described the outlook as positive. Her firm is looking to fill 30 positions, more than double the number this time last year.

“We are witnessing a steady increase in client instructions and there are talks of a strong Q1 recruiting for 2021,” she said.

Unemployed Indian workers are repatriated from Dubai with help from a Sikh motorcycle group that teamed up with a gurudwara or shrine in Jebel Ali. Courtesy: Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai

Workers are repatriated to India after losing their jobs across the UAE due to coronavirus. They were helped home by Sikh community groups in Dubai. Courtesy: Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai

Unemployed workers undergo medical tests before leaving Dubai for India on repatriation flights. Courtesy: Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai

Members of the Sikh Khalsa Motorcycle Team Dubai help repatriate unemployed workers to India. Courtesy: Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai

Hundreds of unemployed Indian workers have been repatriated with the help of Sikh community groups in Dubai. Courtesy: Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai

Thousands of unemployed workers from across the UAE are repatriated to northern Indian cities with the help of a Sikh motorcycle group and a gurudwara or shrine in Jebel Ali. Courtesy: Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai

Amy Butler, managing director at Seeker Group, another recruitment company, is also looking to fill roles with non-profit groups, the education sector, marketing, conglomerates and start-ups.

“We found many of our clients put the majority of their hiring on hold – it was a difficult time for recruitment agencies in the region," she said.

"But in the past month we have seen a surge in activity and an increase in roles.

“We are extremely hopeful of seeing a return to normal staffing levels, we remain optimistic about market conditions.”

Covid-19 a reminder of the need to plan ahead

The pandemic has highlighted the need to set aside savings, particularly when a resident family's sole breadwinner was made redundant.

"One lesson is please put [money] aside for a rainy day because a fair number of people earning considerably well lost their jobs," said Mr Kapoor.

"Nobody planned that something like this would happen so dramatically.

“Others who are secure in their jobs need to value their jobs more.”

Before the pandemic and repatriations, there were about 3.4 million Indians in the Emirates and about 1.6 million Pakistanis.

Pakistan, too, has moved past the challenge of residents queuing up outside the embassy and consulate to register for repatriation flights.

Officials said about half of the 80,000 Pakistanis who left had lost their jobs.

“It’s not a crisis situation any more,” said Ghulam Dastagir, Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE.

Pakistani citizens who live in Dubai line up to receive documents ahead of boarding repatriation flights in June. Reem Mohammed / The National

“People who were laid off and put on unpaid leave were short of cash and supplies. It was not possible to live here without a salary.

“It was a challenge for people working here for years. They have had to plan settlement back at home.

“But people with valid visa for the UAE are now coming back so they can rejoin companies.”

Since June, Pakistani residents can book flights home directly and do not require consular approval.

Officials worked with community groups to support those without funds.

The 700,000-strong Filipino community in the Emirates was also hit, with about 40,000 boarding flights home.

The number of repatriation requests has slowed recently.

“Since the UAE opened we see more people going back to work,” said Paul Cortes, Philippines consul general in Dubai.

“Many Filipinos work in the retail industry, in malls and stores and we have seen these open. There are still people intending to go home but there has been a reduction in the number of requests.”

Confusion about the dates of visas extension and amnesty cover caused several to return instead of paying fines.

Others have switched to visitor visas to stay in the country legally.

Another large group that struggled was the 500,000 strong Bangladeshi community, of which about 20,000 departed.

Consul general Ahmed Amjad Ali speaks to journalists and residents during the campaign to repatriate Pakistani expats. Reem Mohammed / The National

Journalists and community leaders are briefed in the garden of the consulate. About 60,000 expats were flown home on special PIA, Emirates and flydubai services in recent weeks. Reem Mohammed / The National

Among those return home, on two special flydubai services, were almost 400 Pakistani prisoners who were released from Dubai's main jail. AFP

Health workers look on as Pakistani citizens check in at Dubai International Airport before leaving the country on a repatriation flight on April 4. Karim Sahib / AFP

Pakistan consul general Ahmed Ali speaks to travellers at Dubai International Airport on May 15. Courtesy: Pakistan Consulate

Mohammed Akhtar queues outside the Dnata flight centre in Deira, Dubai on June 21. He was trying to buy a ticket back home for the funeral of his son, who was killed in a car accident. Reem Mohammed / The National

Pakistanis originally required consular approval to buy tickets home, which has now been dropped. Reem Mohammed / The National

About 80,000 to 90,000 Pakistanis applied to return home, with 60,000 travelling on government-arranged flights. Reem Mohammed / The National

Repatriation rush slows as many return to the UAE

"The issue is that SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] owned by Bangladeshis are hit and they are trying to rebound as soon as possible,” said Mohammed Abu Zafar, Bangladeshi ambassador to the UAE.

“Ordinary workers have felt the pinch of Covid infections and a good number of Bangladeshis lost their jobs when companies shut.”

A few thousand residents away on annual leave have returned to work in the UAE, giving the community hope for the future.

“There is no longer a rush of people going home,” Mr Zafar said.

“Those working as doctors, in health care have come back to full employment.

“This is an extraordinary time. We must have patience, remain cool until the situation improves.”