Picture for illustrative purposes only. EXPAT MEDIA

Fines were waived for residents and visitors who were forced to overstay their visa after flights in Dubai were cancelled due to last week’s unprecedented weather. Hundreds of travelers were stranded at the Dubai International Airport for days after torrential rain on April 16, which sparked widespread flooding. Some of those affected were residence visa holders who were scheduled to leave the country before their visa expired. A representative of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs confirmed that overstay fines were waived for travellers whose flights were cancelled from April 16 to 18. Speaking to Expat Media, travel operators also said that fines were waived for those whose flights were affected by the rain. Under the UAE’s standardized visa fees, holders of visit visa, tourist visa or residence visa overstaying their visa will be subject to a fine of Dh50 per day. Earlier this week, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced a series of measures to help restore normalcy in Dubai and help flood-hit residents, urging authorities to ease the burden on those affected by the weather. ICA/Expat Media
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