UAE: Staying Outside the UAE for Six Months or More Will Result in Residence Permit Cancellation

Gulf News reports that remaining outside the UAE for six months or longer will result in the automatic cancellation of a residence permit. The condition is not new – it is contained in the Federal Residency Law – but it had not been rigorously enforced. Now, however, a residence permit holder who remains outside the UAE for more than six months must reapply for a visa to re-enter. Exemptions may be granted, but only under specific circumstances.