Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs stressed that the decision taken by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs in Abu Dhabi that requires those who want to renew their residence visas to attach a copy of the accommodation lease, or water or electricity bill for the residence visa issuance and renewal transactions is an administrative decision aimed at facilitating the identification of the residents’ address. Previous addresses were not clear or accurate, and difficult to find at the required speed.
In response to a number of inquiries about this decision, and its impacts at individuals or employees who are sharing accommodation, Major General Al Menhali stated that this decision applies to all people who have addresses of their residence places and will be implemented all over the UAE. The decision requires residents to attach a copy of the lease or the water/electricity bill when they want to renew their visas, as a confirmation of their residence address.
He added that workers who stay at collective housing provided by their employers must present a proof of residence and an address as well as a letter from the workplace, or any contract proving that they live at the given address.
Moreover, Al Menhali explained that the decision aims in the first place, to confirm the address of every resident in the country, for security and procedural purposes. It is also a security, service and administrative procedure undertaken by the General Departments of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs in the country. The decision does not target any segment of society or any real estate agency, but rather serves the housing sector update data and information regarding the addresses of residents in the country and document them properly.
He added that this procedure is not unique to the UAE, but is also implemented across the developed countries.