Abu Dhabi: A panel from the Egyptian Armed Forces will be visiting the UAE from June 3 to 6 to settle recruitment issues of Egyptians lving and working in the country, a senior official said yesterday (Sunday).

“Egyptians who turned 30 years of age or more can apply to a recruitment committee which is due in the UAE from June 3 to 6 to settle their issues and have their passports renewed,” said Colonel Yasser Sabri Shalabi, Egypt’s Defence Attache in the UAE.

Conscription is compulsory in Egypt for men between the ages of 18 and 30. Conscription has been in force in Egypt in some form or the other since the 1840s. The present conscription system is based on the National Conscription Law of 1948, which was further amended in 1955, 1957, 1969 and 1988. The service obligation is between 12 to 36 months, depending on educational background, culture, drop-out, etc, followed by a nine-year reserve obligation.

Service is postponed for students until their studies are completed, before they turn 25 years of age, and they cannot travel abroad without a travel permit from the Ministry of Defence.

Colonel Shalabi told Gulf News the committee will only handle the issues of Egyptians who have turned 30 or those whose parents have turned 60 and they have no siblings.

Only Egyptian men with a male sibling are allowed to be conscripted, if they have no male siblings or dual citizenship they are exempt from service.

Men cannot be enlisted when they turn 30 because they are considered unfit for the service.

Only Egyptians with Egyptian nationality must be enlisted and called for the service. Otherwise, they are exempted. They can be also exempted if they have no brothers or they are the only breadwinner in the family.

A conscript can be enlisted in one of the various arms and branches of the Egyptian Army, the Egyptian Air Defence Forces or the Egyptian Navy. A limited number of conscripts can join as ground/base staff in the Air Force. Those who do not qualify for selection in any of the armed forces branches are required to do their service obligation in the Central Security Forces for a 36-month period.

People who graduate from colleges are offered the chance to remain in service after the obligatory period (12–36 months), and they are positioned in special ranks among the other conscripts.

For documents needed, applicants need to call the office of Egypt’s Military Attache on 02 4473205.