After a four-day Eid al-Fitr holiday that paused most non-essential government services, ministries and federal entities across the United Arab Emirates reopened for business at 07:30 GST on Monday, 23 March 2026. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) had confirmed the holiday window via Circular No. 2-2026, but the practical impact on mobility was felt only when immigration counters, labour offices and free-zone authorities suspended walk-in appointments last Thursday. For mobility managers the resumption means that backlogs in residence-visa stamping, Emirates ID biometrics and labour-contract approvals will now begin to clear. Dubai’s Amer service centres reported morning queues extending outside several branches as expatriates rushed to file time-sensitive applications that had reached their grace-period limits during the break. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai said it processed more than 18,000 online submissions during the holiday—largely renewals for Golden-Visa holders—yet over-the-counter volume “is expected to remain elevated for at least 48 hours.” Companies with assignees arriving this week are being advised to reconfirm medical-testing slots, as some panel clinics have shifted appointments originally scheduled for 19–22 March.
![UAE public-sector offices and immigration counters reopen after Eid break]()
For mobility teams still navigating these bottlenecks, VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) can streamline the process by coordinating visa pre-checks, document collection, and courier filing, letting applicants bypass much of the congestion now facing Amer centres and ICP offices.
In Abu Dhabi, the ICP’s main customer happiness centre has extended service hours until 20:00 GST through Wednesday to work through the backlog. Travel infrastructure is likewise returning to normal operating rhythm. Dubai International and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International airports both projected passenger peaks on Monday evening as outbound residents took advantage of the first post-holiday business flights to London, Mumbai and Singapore. Emirates Airline reinstated its late-night EK 5/6 rotation to London-Heathrow, removed from the roster during the holiday due to crew rostering constraints. FAHR reminded HR departments that flexible and remote-working concessions granted during recent security incidents remain in place for staff with caregiving duties. Employers must therefore continue to offer hybrid options where operationally feasible, a point consultants say is often overlooked in post-holiday staffing plans.
For mobility teams still navigating these bottlenecks, VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) can streamline the process by coordinating visa pre-checks, document collection, and courier filing, letting applicants bypass much of the congestion now facing Amer centres and ICP offices.
In Abu Dhabi, the ICP’s main customer happiness centre has extended service hours until 20:00 GST through Wednesday to work through the backlog. Travel infrastructure is likewise returning to normal operating rhythm. Dubai International and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International airports both projected passenger peaks on Monday evening as outbound residents took advantage of the first post-holiday business flights to London, Mumbai and Singapore. Emirates Airline reinstated its late-night EK 5/6 rotation to London-Heathrow, removed from the roster during the holiday due to crew rostering constraints. FAHR reminded HR departments that flexible and remote-working concessions granted during recent security incidents remain in place for staff with caregiving duties. Employers must therefore continue to offer hybrid options where operationally feasible, a point consultants say is often overlooked in post-holiday staffing plans.
