covid guidelines
United Arab Emirates Extends Travel Ban for Indians Leaving Expats Stuck Abroad
The United Arab Emirates has extended a suspension for those travelling from India and several other South Asian countries due to COVID-related guidelines.
According to Etihad Airlines, the ban will be in place until July 31st.
However, other airlines have said this is pending government review. The extension does not include UAE citizens, diplomats or those holding the nation's investor visa. Nor does it include fully vaccinated travellers that hold a residency visa and have taken three tests since June 23rd.
Read: UAE widens travel ban leaving many South Asians unable to return to country
However, those who fall outside this bracket and hope to conduct business or travel for leisure to the UAE will have to continue to wait for the restrictions to be lifted. Since April, expats in India have been left in limbo overseas, with many forced to re-evaluate their options. The need to have alternative solutions has become more apparent than ever for those facing limited mobility, not only impacting business but jeopardising family safety.
Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a spike in demand for second citizenship as a tool that can be leveraged to diversify assets whilst also providing a safety net during times of uncertainty. According to data, there have been as many as 5,000 high net-worth Indians who have left the country since 2020. In conjunction, there has been a sharp incline in interest for Citizenship by Investment (CBI) - a process that confers citizenship to an applicant and additional dependents once an economic contribution is made to a host country.
Read: Dominica Completes $2m Bypass Project to Safeguard Community During Hurricane Season
"As governments become more insular and impose stricter visa controls, the opportunity to travel and do business globally is considerably hampered. So, Citizenship by Investment is a wonderful way to reverse that as it gives the Indian national better access to travel and business opportunities," says Micha Emmett, CEO of CS Global Partners is a global investor immigration firm specialising in providing citizenship solutions.
Since 1993, Dominica has welcomed Indian investors, among others, to become citizens of the Caribbean nation. The country's CBI programme offers successful applicants a trusted route to second citizenship with benefits such as increased travel freedom to over 140 destinations, access to top tier educational institutions and alternative business prospects. The programme has also been ranked as the world's best offering for second citizenship by an annual independent study conducted by experts at the Financial Times' PWM.
Motivate people to follow govt’s covid guidelines: IGP to police
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on Sunday told police to motivate the people to follow the government’s directives to tackle the transmission of coronavirus.
He gave the directive to all metropolitan police, range and district police superintendents through a video conference from the Police Headquarters.
A surge in infection prompted the Prime Minister Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive on March 29. The Cabinet Division gave an 11-point guideline on April 4.
Also read: Bangladesh set to enforce nationwide lockdown Monday amid Covid surge
Benazir emphasised motivating the people and not using force to implement the directives when the country enters a seven-day lockdown from Monday.
The IGP said that like last year, the kitchen markets have to be set up in open space. Following health guidelines must be ensured there.
About the quarantine of returnees, he said that if anyone comes from abroad, they have to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Also read: Govt issues gazette restricting people’s movement, other activities for 7 days
Emergency services, factories and garments industries will remain open, he said, adding that public transport will be closed. The movement of vehicles carrying goods should be kept normal.
He instructed police officers and the force to perform their duties following proper health guidelines. The IGP directed to strictly implement the 'No Mask No Entry' policy at all police installations.
He also instructed the police officers to regularly disinfect all police installations.
Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge
The IGP said that after coronavirus cases were first detected in the country in March last year, police stood by the people as a humanitarian force to tackle the crisis.
He hoped that everyone would work together to curb the spread of coronavirus by implementing the government's orders to deal with the second wave.