UAE bars entry of residents for 2 weeks starting today, suspends issuing work permits and work visas

After banning its citizens from travel abroad yesterday, the UAE has banned the return of residency permit holders to the country for a "renewable" two weeks period, starting Thursday, March 19, 2020 and imposing a mandatory 14-day quarantine on anyone entering the country.

According to the UAE’s state news agency (WAM), the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has also "suspended the issuance of all types of labor permits, including for drivers and domestic workers, effective Thursday, March, 19, until further notice."

Exempting Expo 2020 permit holders and intra-corporate transfer, the UAE has also suspended all work visa issuance and visas-on-arrival beginning Thursday.