How to Check Travel Ban in UAE- A Comprehensive Guide

The United Arab Emirates, a country famous for global connectivity, welcomes millions of people from across the globe for business, work opportunities, or visit purposes. However, it has implemented a travel ban check mechanism to save its national interests. Therefore, if you have already visited the UAE and are planning to arrive there once again for business or any other purpose, it is mandatory to check the travel ban in UAE before packing your bags and booking flights.

Recently, the UAE has provided the facility for a travel ban in UAE checks online. In this article, you will learn how to check the travel ban and request cancellation. However, knowing what the travel ban is, its reasons and its types is vital for every individual.

What is a Travel Ban?

A travel ban in UAE is a governmental restriction that prevents individuals or groups from entering or leaving a specific country because they do not fulfil certain requirements. Usually, a travel ban is accompanied by a court or police order to prohibit an individual from national interests and maintaining social order.

A travel ban check is the process that individuals can use to check whether they have travel restrictions for a country.

Reasons Behind Travel Ban in UAE

There is a diverse array of circumstances that provoke the UAE government to impose a travel ban to save national interests. Some of the main reasons for travel ban in UAE are:

Legal Issues

Individuals involved in criminal activities, facing court proceedings, or under any kind of investigation are subject to a travel ban in UAE to ensure their presence in the country. It is the only way to facilitate the administration of justice within the UAE’s jurisdiction. Such individuals are prohibited from leaving the country throughout the legal proceedings.

Debt and Financial Obligations

UAE’s legal framework revolves around fulfilling financial responsibilities. Therefore, individuals with unpaid debts and unresolved financial obligations may have to face a travel ban in UAE until their financial disputes are settled. It is the only way to protect the interests of creditors and financial institutions.

Employment and Sponsorship Issues

As we all know, the UAE offers work visas to individuals across the globe, but it also places a high value on employment obligations. An individual involved in contractual breaches and labour regulations may have to face a travel ban in UAE. Similarly, individuals in disputes with their sponsors also fall under a travel ban until the issues are resolved.

Immigration Violations

Obeying the immigration laws is vital for individuals living in the UAE. Any violation in this regard may impose travel restrictions on them. Therefore, avoid overstaying visas, violating immigration laws, or being involved in illegal residency practices to avoid a travel ban in UAE.

Security Concerns

Individuals deemed to pose a security threat to the integrity of the country may also be prevented from entering or leaving the country until the government investigates the matter and gives clearance.

Public Health

The UAE government may also impose a travel ban on people during health emergencies and the outbreak of a pandemic. It is the only way to safeguard public health and prevent the spread of diseases.

Apart from these reasons, sometimes, a travel ban in UAE may be used as a political tool in response to international or regional conflicts.

Understanding these reasons is vital for everyone who intends to travel to the UAE because it is the only way they can take appropriate actions and resolve issues.

Types of Travel Ban in UAE

There are various types of travel bans in UAE, each serving different purposes and imposed under different circumstances. However, the most common travel bans include:

Criminal Bans

It is imposed on those involved in criminal cases or engaged in illegal acts that put national security at stake. Individuals under this travel ban can neither enter nor stay in the UAE until the issues are resolved. Individuals under any ongoing trial or investigation also come under criminal bans.

Financial Bans

A Financial travel ban in UAE is imposed on those with unsettled debts, loans, or financial disputes. It is binding upon people to settle their outstanding loans or debts before leaving the UAE.

Employment and Labour Bans

These bans are imposed on work-related issues like breach of breach of contract or disputes with the employer or sponsor. An individual under these bans cannot enter into a contract with the new employer until the issue is resolved or the ban period expires.

Immigration Bans

Immigration bans are one of the most significant travel restrictions that the UAE government imposes on those who disobey immigration laws, overstay visas, or are involved in any such act that may damage the integrity and sovereignty of the state. Immigration bans may be imposed for 6 months to a lifelong travel ban in UAE.

How to Check UAE Travel Ban Status?

If you are thinking about “how to check travel ban in UAE,” here are some methods to check your travel ban status through your passport number in different Emirates.

Check Travel Bans in Dubai Emirate

If you are planning to move to Dubai, there are two different ways to check travel ban in UAE.

Travel Ban Check through Dubai Police Stations

If you are facing a travel ban in Dubai and are prohibited from leaving the Emirate, the most convenient way to check your travel ban status is by visiting your nearest Dubai Police Station. The detailed steps are:

• Visit your nearest police station.
• Ask about any criminal complaint against you from the staff. Remember to take your Emirates ID and Passport with you because they will check the status by entering your Emirates ID number or Passport number. The working hours of Dubai Police Stations are 7:30 am to 10:00 pm.

You can request fixation of the allegations to be eligible to leave the Emirate whenever you want.

Check Travel Ban through the Dubai Police Website or App

This travel ban status check method is useful for those who are facing travel bans while living outside the country. Dubai Police has made it easy to check your travel ban status through their official website or mobile app. The step-by-step checking process is as follows:

• Visit the official website of Dubai Police or download the Mobile App, which is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
• At the home page, navigate to “Reporting Services” and click it.
• On the next screen, click on the “Criminal Status of Financial Cases” tab.
• Click on “Access Service” on the following screen to start the service. You will see a blank form.
• Now, you will have to enter your Emirates ID, select the Captcha Image, and click on “Search.”

Your travel ban status will be on your screen. If you have a travel ban, visit the nearest Dubai Police Station along with the Emirates ID, Passport, and Authority Letter. You can pay the fine and submit the additional documents required for verification, and your ban will be lifted within a few days.

Check Travel Bans in Abu Dhabi Emirate

Abu Dhabi does not offer a travel ban status check service through its police website or app. Instead, individuals can check their travel ban status through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Service “Estafser.” The detailed process is as follows:

• Visit the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Website and navigate to the “Estafser” service.
• A small form will open where you will have to enter your UID Number and Captcha code.
• Now, click on the “Search” button below to see your travel ban status.

Check Travel Bans in Other Emirates

Suppose you have lived or are living in any other Emirate like Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, or Al Ain. In that case, you will have to visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDFRA) to check your travel ban status.

You can also contact the relevant authorities directly to inquire about your travel ban status. If you are living outside the UAE, visit their consulate or embassy and seek guidance from their experts.

Moreover, you can consult a lawyer who is an expert in UAE immigration laws. The lawyer will guide you through the process and help you check your travel ban status.

UAE Travel Bans Duration

UAE travel ban duration can vary depending on the ban type and the circumstances under which it is imposed. Some bans are temporary; others may last longer. For example, immigration travel bans can last for a lifetime, depending on the severity of the crime. The minimum duration of immigration bans is six months.

Employment bans can be imposed for six months to a year maximum. It is the period during which the ex-pats have to reconcile issues with their sponsor or labour regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)