UAE | General
Expatriates urged to register with embassies
As new and returning expatriates arrive in the UAE, embassies call on residents to register with them.
- By Marten Youssef, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:32 August 19, 2008
- American: www.travel.state.gov
- British: www.fco.gov.uk
- Canadian: www.voyage.gc.ca
- Indian: +971 2 4492700
- Philippines: +971 2 6415922
- Pakistani: +971 2 4447800
- Russian: +971 2 67235169
Abu Dhabi: As new and returning expatriates arrive in the UAE, embassies call on residents to register with them.
While many expatriates have avoided registering, embassies reaffirm that registration is merely incase of personal emergencies and not to keep tabs on their nationals living here.
"Registering with the US embassy takes little time. Through the United States Embassy, American citizens can subscribe to a list of services to receive warden messages such as voters' registration information. All that's required is a name and mail address," a spokesperson from the United States Embassy told Gulf News.
Knowledge
Registration often takes minutes to do and is quick. Embassies recommend that even those travelling for a brief period should register with their embassies.
Many travellers depend on their own family's knowledge of their whereabouts, but embassy officials say this may not be enough in many cases.
"The embassy can act as a liaison between the family and you over here," the Polish Second Secretary, Rafal Pawlak, told Gulf News.
"The main point is the person's security. But we also want to create an E-community of Polish citizens, informing them of events and party or functions," Pawlak said. For the Polish Embassy to encourage its 1,500-member community to register may be a lesser challenge than the larger communities.
For the larger expatriate communities in the UAE, like the Indian and Pakistani, there is no registration facility, but members of the communities are encouraged to send their families emergency contact and embassy information.
Some expatriates have avoided registering mainly out of fear that the embassy would send information home on working overseas therefore they would be subjected to the same taxes as back home.
For example, the Canadian registration service online clearly states that information provided is held under Canada's stringent Privacy Act, relieving the fears of passing on the information to other departments.
Most consular services offer information through emails ranging from travel warnings to community events.
Click or dial: How to get in touch
Latest news
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Police's secret source scheme reaps rewards
- Transfusion centre launches new toll free number
- Mirror, mirror show me the way
- Smart e-Gate system launched
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
