Ras Al Khaimah, December 05: A top official of the Ras Al Khaimah Naturalisation and Residency Department have called on UAE nationals to always check the validity dates of their passports and obtain the national identity cards before they travel outside the country during holidays.
The call came after holiday trips of scores of Emiratis were halted at various UAE ports and borders during the Eid Al Adha as their passports had already expired.
Col. Yusuf Ahmed Al Zaabi, Director of the Passports Department, said it was necessary for all nationals to renew their expired passports and obtain the national identity cards prior to travelling abroad to avoid being inconvenienced at the ports and borders.
Parents should also obtain passports for their young children and all family members even if they are visiting only neighbouring countries, he added.
During the Eid Al Adha and National Day holidays, thousands of Emiratis and residents travelled to the neighbouring countries, especially Oman, with their families. Many Emirati tourists were denied permission to enter Oman because their passports had expired and some did not carry the national identity cards with them.
“Some couples came with their children and other family members but without carrying their passports or national identity cards. All these people whose intentions were only to spend their holidays abroad were denied permission to cross the borders because of their carelessness,” said Al Zaabi.
Everyone requires a valid travel document and identity documents to enter another country.
People travelling in their vehicles to the neighbouring countries should ensure that their vehicle licences and driving permits are valid. There were cases of tourists denied permission to cross the UAE border to Oman because their vehicle licences had expired, he added.
–Agencies