ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates has resumed issuing employment visas for vital government and semi-government sectors, as well as entry permits for domestic workers, state news agency WAM reported on Monday.

The announcement was made by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) with the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority on Monday.

The two entities said that entry permits can be obtained from official channels only, adding the new decision also takes into account the precautionary measures being undertaken by the travel industry to curb the spread of coronavirus including presenting a pre-entry COVID-19 test. Employers must also receive the arrivals and quarantine them for 14 days in coordination with relevant authorities.

ICA said that domestic workers of all nationalities holding valid visas would continue to be allowed entry. This also includes holders of valid residency visas and workers for government and semi-government bodies and vital establishments, provided that the responsible party submits the application via the authority's website "ica.gov.ae".

The authority stressed the importance of adhering to the pre-entry examination measure, in order to help facilitate the entry of workers to the UAE. — WAM