Al Ain: Fresh restrictions on Al Ain-Buraimi border came into effect from Tuesday with the change of entry and exit points for Emiratis, GCC nationals, and UAE expatriates.
The Mudeef border crossing has been closed down and the Department of Naturalisation and Residency and police have placed barricades to stop the traffic.
This border post was earlier used by Emiratis and GCC nationals as well as school buses to take students to Al Ain schools.
A department official said people will be allowed to cross the border from the posts located in Al Hili and Khatam Al Shukla (KAS). The schools are currently closed for summer holidays.
"We will make appropriate arrangements when the schools reopen in September," said the official. The authorities have taken the measures to curb smuggling and illegal migrants entering the country.
The restrictions have created worries for people living in Al Ain and the neighbouring Omani town of Buraimi. Following the restrictions a large number of people have shifted their residences from Buraimi to Al Ain, creating an acute shortage of flats and villas. Rents have soared and authorities have, so far, introduced no rent control mechanism in the city. "The authorities should have studied the negative fallout of the new restrictions," said Abdul Aziz, an African expatriate.
Soaring rents
"We are suffering because of the border closure and landlords and real estate agents are exploiting poor people," he said.
Saleem Akhtar, an Asian expatriate, said real estate agents have been demanding exorbitant rents. Many people, especially those working in small private companies, cannot afford such rents and are now living in sub-standard shelters.
The border restrictions are also expected to increase traffic on Al Qattara Road. "We now have to spend almost an hour to reach Buraimi," he said.
Dh20 fee for visitors
Under the new arrangements, Emiratis and anyone travelling with them and the nationals of other GCC countries will be using Al Hili checkpoint to enter or exit the UAE.
Expatriates on UAE resident visas will only be able to enter Buraimi through the border point of Khatam Al Shukla (KAS), some 15km away in the north-east of the city.
The KAS checkpoint is located on the road used by heavy truck. The road linking the checkpoint and Al Ain city has recently been developed into a dual-carriage highway.
Non-UAE residents will also be crossing the border through the KAS post and they will have to pay a fee of Dh20 per head, according to the Department of Naturalisation and Residency.
According to Colonel Nasser Al Minhali, Head of the Department of Naturalisation and Residency, eight immigration counters have been set up the KAS border crossing.
The result of the new measure would be studied and people using the KAS checkpoint would have to fill a questionnaire at the time of crossing.
By Aftab Kazmi
© Gulf News 2008
