People who had been spared overstay penalties during recent regional turmoil now have a fixed window to sort out their legal standing in the UAE. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has set aside 30 days for them to either regularise their presence or leave, with no fines attached either way.
That window opened on June 10 and closes July 9, 2026. It covers everyone who had earlier qualified for relief from overstay charges after finding themselves stuck in the country, unable to depart because of disruptions tied to the exceptional situation in the region.
According to the ICP, anyone hoping to stay can use these weeks to fix their residency or work arrangements, while those choosing to go can simply leave through the usual channels. No extra preparatory steps are demanded of beneficiaries before they act.
The authority framed the decision as a way to keep people on the right side of UAE law while handing them a fair chance to put their paperwork in order and carry on living and working legally, now that conditions in the region have settled.
It pointed back to its original fine waiver as evidence of the country’s humanitarian outlook and its readiness to stand by travellers and visitors when emergencies strike. That reasoning, however, no longer holds. “The circumstances that necessitated the exemption from fines no longer exist in light of the stability currently prevailing in the region,” the authority said.
Those affected were advised to rely on official sources for any further instructions or regulatory updates.
The original relief dates to March, when the ICP lifted overstay penalties for visa holders, exit permit holders and residents with cancelled visas who could not get out of the country. Their predicament stemmed from airspace closures and suspended flights beginning February 28, 2026 — a situation the authority said warranted protecting people from costs they had no power to avoid.
