Global Mobility and COVID-19

The last few weeks have been some of the most intense and uncertain in recent world history. The entire planet has felt the impact of Covid-19 across all aspects of society, from our health to our economy. Each day brings new information and new instructions as we look for ways in which we can work together to contain and prevent the growth of the virus. As well as the risk to the wellbeing of the old and infirm and the strain on the medical industry, the reduction in movement, commerce and events is having a drastic impact on several sectors. We wanted to take this opportunity to update you on our response and the new guidelines that will effect relocation, immigration and visa services in the Middle East.

Local v. International

As of today (17.03.2020) the UAE has had just under 200 reported cases with double digit recoveries. However, the government has chosen to implement a series of steps that are designed to keep our infection growth small and give our medical teams the chance to facilitate as many recoveries as possible. To avoid groups congregating and surface cross-contamination, events, bars, mosques, schools, pools, parks and entertainment venues have been temporarily closed, with further closures expected in the coming days. Our efforts to emulate countries like Italy and Spain are intended to help prevent the spread of what the World Health Organisation (WHO) has now deemed a pandemic.

Entering the UAE

One of the most highly discussed topics throughout the last week, the question of who can still enter the UAE has been rife with rumour and misinformation. For clients concerned about employee mobility, returning staff, business meetings, family or friends, here is the information you need to know. As of today (17.03.2020) the UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) have suspended new visas for those wishing to enter the UAE. What does that mean exactly? Here are some key points.

• Those with diplomatic passports are exempt from this announcement and can continue to travel as previously
• If you have been issued with a visa prior to March 17^th, you may also still enter the country (although you may be asked to self-isolate if from certain countries)
• Travellers from the following destinations will still be able to enter and obtain a visa on arrival once in the country, but may be subject to significant screening before leaving the airport: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rome, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Vatican, United Kingdom and the USA.
• Flights have been suspended to the following destinations: Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Italy (except for Rome), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, China (except for Beijing), Syria, Turkey

It is likely that these precautions will remain in effect or increase in severity until all countries have a uniformed approach to screening and testing in key airports or hubs of travel.

EER Precautions

At EER our main priority is the health and well-being of our employees and our clients. We remain in close communication with the relevant government departments so that we can stay up to date with key information and adapt our approach accordingly. We have already tested and deployed our robust business contingency plan that will ensure smooth operations continue for our clients across the Middle East. This involves monitoring employees’ health and implementing split team structures with work from home elements so that there is always someone available to help you. Within our offices we have a series of hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene measures in place and have restricted all but essential travel. At every step we are making sure to comply with and exceed the advice of local and international health authorities so that we can protect our employees, clients and visitors. Rest assured, the steps we have taken are designed to limit the disruptions to your business, especially with so many other potential disruptions surrounding you. Your experience at EER is more important than ever as we work to bring you the latest, official information so that you know exactly what is going on and can adapt quickly and efficiently to accommodate those changes.

Ultimately the situation changes every day and we don’t yet know what the lasting repercussions will be on society as a whole. We very much hope you are all staying as safe and well as possible and we want each of our clients and associates to know that we are ready to help wherever we can. If you have any questions at all about the impact on your business or steps you can take to help contain its damage, please get in touch with us via info@eerme.com or by calling +971 4 421 1819.

The whole team at EER stands with the wider community in working together to combat this global threat and help us all recover as quickly as possible.

Stay safe and stay sensible.