11 OFWs returning to Dubai denied entry due to non-compliance with COVID-19 measures

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — At least 11 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning to Dubai have been denied entry over failure to secure the required prior approval from appropriate agencies of the UAE government, according to Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, head of the Philippine mission to Dubai.

“There were 11. They have been flown back,” Cortes told GMA News Online here. He said the incident happened on Oct. 9, 2020.

The group were boarded on the next available flight.

“Airline diligence dapat yan. The airline paid for their (OFWs’) return (flight). This was reason why we had to remind our kababayans,” Cortes said.

The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) has issued an advisory telling OFWs returning to UAE through Dubai International Airport to secure approval from the concerned government agencies prior to departure from the Philippines to ensure re-entry.

Public Advisory 18-2020, issued Oct. 12, or three days after the incident, stated that the approval can be obtained from Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) for those holding a Dubai-issued residence visa; or the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) for those whose visas were issued in any of the UAE’s six other emirates.

“Without approval to return to Dubai, you will not be allowed entry,” the advisory further stated, apparently issued as more OFWs start coming back to the city with flights and Dubai airport operations gradually normalizing following eased restrictions.

The approval can be applied for online by visiting the GDRFA website, PCG said.

Those applying from ICA, it added, can visit http://uaeentry.ica.gov.ae

New normal

In a related PCG development, the consulate general has unveiled modular service counters at its premises to provide an extra layer of protection against COVID-19 infection for clients and PCG’s personnel.

The PCG, which has 41 officers and staff, handles about 250 clients a day, down from 700 during the pre-covid times, according to Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes.

“While the Consulate strives to creatively accommodate the demand for consular services for our kababayans here in Dubai and the Northern Emirates during this time of pandemic, we also aim to provide them comfort and safety while they are inside the Consulate premises,” said Consul General Cortes.

The Reception Area, Passport Processing Section, Passport Coordinator’s Office, Encoding Section, Notarial Processing Section and the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Section are among the nine offices which were renovated with office modular partitions.

The renovation of the Consulate General’s work and service areas is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) commitment to providing better facilities and services to the Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

In adherence to the UAE's call for a responsible return to the new normal, the Consulate continues to implement a by-appointment-only transaction.

The following are the important contact numbers and email addresses for inquiries on the Consulate’s services:

• WhatsApp # 0564177558
• ATN Section Mobile # +971 56 5015755/ +971 56 5015756
• Email Addresses:
• Civil Registry Unit (CRU) / Report of Birth and Death: birth@pcgdubai.ae
• Notarials: notarials@pcgdubai.ae
• Passport Renewal: passportcoord@pcgdubai.ae
• Passport Releasing: passport.releasing@pcgdubai.ae
• Marriage: marriage@pcgdubai.ae
• Visa of foreign national going to Philippines: visa@pcgdubai.ae
• Legal Matters and Assistance to Nationals (ATN): atn@pcgdubai.ae
• Cultural and Filcom: cultural@pcgdubai.ae

—KBK, GMA News