Abu Dhabi: To ensure the safety of citizens who travel abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has added emergency numbers as part of its SMS services sent to UAE nationals on their mobile phones.
According to the state news agency Wam, travellers will receive text messages containing the contact details of the UAE Embassy as well as phone numbers, in cases of emergency during their stay abroad.
The aim of the service, which the ministry began applying earlier this month, is to continuously communicate with citizens of the state while they are abroad to overcome difficulties or obstacles they may face while travelling.
Hamad Mattar Al Shamsi, director of the operations department at the ministry, said: “Last year [in 2015], more than eight million text messages were sent to UAE nationals abroad [with the telephone numbers of UAE embassies]. Whether the purpose of their travels was either to receive medical treatment, studies or tourism, the services we provide is to keep everybody safe from all types of situations and circumstances.”
Al Shamsi warned that people travelling abroad should always keep emergency numbers at hand, and when faced with challenging circumstances, should not hesitate to contact their embassies or consulates.
