Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has urged UAE nationals travelling abroad to follow travel guidelines and procedures, out of keenness to facilitate citizens’ travel and ensure their safety while abroad.

The ministry called on travellers to register themselves and their young and old family members in the Ministry’s Tawajedi services (My Whereabouts) through the website of the Foreign Ministry www.mofa.gov.ae (http://www.mofa.gov.ae) or smartphone application ‘UAEMOFA’, which are primarily dedicated to assisting UAE citizens who face emergency situations or crises abroad.

Rashid Ali Al Dhaheri, Director of Nationals’ Affairs at MoFA, emphasised the need for citizens travelling to regularly review travel updates and advisories available on the ministry’s website and to make sure that their passports are valid for at least six months.

Al Dhaheri added that citizens are also requested to keep their passports, air tickets and personal effects in safe places and to place their important documents in the safe of the hotel they are checking into.

Citizens are also requested to avoid wearing expensive clothes and accessories of famous brands which draw the attention of others in public places where there are people of different nationalities and interests. Copies of passports and other identifications should be saved in self-addressed emails or mobile phones, so they can be produced in case of an emergency or when visiting the UAE mission in the host country.

He called on the citizens to respect the general laws of the host country and to represent the UAE honourably abroad, while urging them to co-operate with the authorities upon arrival at the host country’s airport by disclosing some important personal information if asked, such as the duration of stay, accommodation, airfare and the date of return and the amount of cash they will have during their presence in the host country.

In the event of escorting non-citizens, normal procedures must be followed to issue a prior entry visa and a written undertaking from a sponsor to incur expenses of a housemaid.

He called on citizens to preserve the emergency numbers to communicate with the ministry or the state’s mission or contact with the number of countries, where there is no diplomatic representation of the UAE, to be used in the event of any emergency. They can call 00971 600599991.

Al Dhaheri wished the travelling citizens happy holidays and safe return.