Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has called on Emiratis to observe and follow the travel instructions before traveling abroad to ensure their security and safety, and to avoid exposure to any possible or expected risk in those countries.
Rashid Ali Al Dhahiri, Acting Director of Citizens Affairs at the Ministry, stressed the importance of educating the citizens who are planning to travel about the travel tips, updates, warnings and advice, which are found on the official website of the Ministry www.mofa.gov.ae .
It includes all the information and customised services that meet the needs of the country's citizens travelling abroad.
He urged the citizens wishing to travel to register at tawajedi services or 'my presence service', adding that they have to register families including the elderly and children, through the official website of the ministry www.mofa.gov.ae or smart application 'UAEMOFA'.
Al Dhahiri added that such services enable the ministry and missions overseas to communicate with them in cases of emergency and crisis situations, and detect their presence abroad to provide assistance.
Al Dhahiri called on the citizens to respect the general laws of the host country and to represent the UAE honourably abroad, urging them to co-operate with the official authorities upon arrival at the host country's airport by disclosing some important personal information if asked, such as the duration of stay, accommodation, airfare and the date of return and the amount of cash they will be carrying during their presence in the host country.
He noted that passengers arriving or departing from European Union countries, carrying an amount of 10,000 euros or more in cash should disclose the amount to the customs officer.
Al Dhaheri cautioned the citizens not to travel to troubled or turbulent places and to follow the travel warnings periodically published on the website of the ministry before they chose their destination.
The Acting Director of Citizens Affairs Department urged fellow citizens to choose the right housing in terms of security and safety and avoid places where these conditions do not exist.
Al Dhaheri added that they should not leave the doors of apartments or rooms open, they should confirm the identity of any visitor before opening the doors, and should avoid going out, especially late at night.
He urged the UAE citizens travelling abroad to closely monitor their children. Parents must not leave them alone outside, especially those with special needs, to ensure they do not go missing.
Al Dhahiri also stressed the importance of avoiding wearing valuables that draw attention in public places frequented by people from various nationalities. In the event of escorting non-citizens, normal procedures must be followed to issue the prior entry visa and a written undertaking from a sponsor to incur expenses of a housemaid.
Copies of passports and other identifications should be saved in self-addressed emails or mobile phones, so they can be produced in case of an emergency or when visiting the UAE mission in the host country.
He called on the UAE citizens to retain the emergency numbers to communicate with the Ministry or the UAE missions abroad or contact on the number of countries, where there is no diplomatic representation of the UAE, to be used in the event of any emergency. They can call 00971- 600599991. Al Dhaheri wished citizens happy holidays and a safe return.
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