Saudi visa applicants from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain will go to Dubai for biometrics

Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents going to Saudi Arabia have to come to Dubai for biometrics and visa processing.

VFS TasHeel International, which is tasked with managing and administrating Saudi visa application process and biometrics by Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 33 countries, on Tuesday said it had relocated its office temporarily to Dubai due to fire in the shopping mall it was located in.  So all the applicants from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain will be brought to Dubai for visa processing and biometrics process, said Kannaiyan Shankear, Head of Middle East at VFS TasHeel.

Biometric enrollment became mandatory for all visa applicants to Saudi Arabia from May 26, 2014 and VFS has been designated for the biometrics of the applicants in the UAE.

VFS’s office was closed at Mina Mall, Abu Dhabi, after a massive blaze erupted at one of the electronics shop earlier this week.

Shankear said the mall, which is under the civil defence supervision for investigation purpose, is expected to be opened in a week time and then VFS can resume operations within 24 hours of handing over the office.

The company, according to Shankear, is transporting around 550 applicants each day from Abu Dhabi since the office was closed due to the fire.

“We have relocated our Abu Dhabi staff to Dubai and we are working till midnight on the 3rd floor of Dubai office where 10 counters are catering Abu Dhabi applicants; we are not sending back anyone.

“We will ensure that the diversion will only cause minimal delay. The Abu Dhabi centre will reopen as soon as the repair works at the premises is completed,” Shankear added.

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