Kuwait Begins Repatriation As The UAE Adopts Tough Measures

Kuwait is planning to begin the repatriation of some 50,000 stranded expats this coming Sunday, with airlines being given permission to operate outward bound flights to defined destinations.

The repatriation effort comes as the emirate continues its amnesty ruling for expatriates without residency permits, with officials ensuring those affected won’t be fined for overstaying and will be allowed to return later provided they have the correct documentation. At the same time, Kuwait’s overall total of infections with the coronavirus has increased to 1,300, with just two recorded deaths.

For many countries worldwide, providing repatriation services has proven a tricky undertaking, especially as a number of world governments have been slow to come forward with their own plans to remove trapped expat citizens from countries unable or unwilling to commit to the essential service. As a result, the UAE’s Ministry of Labour is reported to be studying measures able to be taken against world countries which have refused to cooperate with its relocation plans.

A spokesperson from the UAE's Ministry of Resources and Emiratisation told reporters it’s planning to revise all current partnerships with states using non-cooperative policies as regards bringing their citizens back to their home countries. Retaliatory measures could include the suspension of memorandums of understanding as well as quota restrictions applied to expatriates wishing to work in the UAE. It’s likely the UK might lose out should the UAE include it in its list, as the emirate is a popular relocation destination for British expats. At the present time, the UAE is ramping up its testing procedures, with over 4,000 confirmed cases and 22 deaths across the emirate.