Middle East Mobility Disruptions

Summary of Current Impacts

Several governments—including Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia—have issued emergency guidance. Airports and air travel in the region is impacted, with limited services continuing from Saudi Arabia and Oman. Individuals eligible to enter these jurisdictions may still be able to route flights via these countries, but cancellation rates remain high.  Some individuals, lucky enough to get one of the limited flights available, may also require permission to enter Saudi Arabia or Oman to transit to their home country or country of residence.

Authorities have urged residents and visitors to remain indoors and limit local movement, and many public offices including immigration, regulatory and labour authorities may be operating at reduced capacity or are temporarily closed. These conditions may cause delays to visa processing, renewals and other in‑person formalities, with knock‑on effects for corporate mobility programmes.

Implications for Business Travellers and Foreign Workers

Operational mobility constraints

• Flight cancellations and rerouting may significantly delay short‑term travel for meetings, project work or study‑related commitments.
• Business travellers may need to revisit itineraries, explore alternative hubs or transition temporarily to remote participation.

Immigration processing delays

• Limited in‑person services across multiple countries may delay work permits, residence permits, renewals and compliance steps requiring biometrics or registration.
• Dependents relying on visa extensions or sponsorship changes may also experience processing challenges as authorities scale back onsite operations.

On‑the‑ground restrictions

• Locally issued guidance to stay indoors may limit the ability of foreign nationals to attend appointments, register addresses, provide biometrics or complete onboarding steps.

Return travel to Ireland

• Irish citizens should follow official travel advisories and airline updates.
• Irish residents, including non‑EEA nationals, must continue to hold valid entry permissions (entry visa or Irish Residence Permit) to re‑enter Ireland.
• Irish citizens returning with non‑EEA spouses may rely on the spouse of Irish national provisions; spouses who do not require an entry visa for Ireland can travel to Ireland and are allowed to register after arrival in Ireland.
• Those urgently requiring visas should contact the nearest Irish Embassy or Visa Office.

EY Recommendations for Employers

To support your globally mobile workforce, EY recommends:

• Map employee populations in impacted areas; agree and communicate emergency provisions for different nationalities and types of mobile employee e.g. assignees versus local hires.
• Review and update business continuity plans, including remote‑working arrangements, emergency travel provisions and communication protocols.  Scenario modelling for emergency redeployment of staff, using other corporate office locations for safe harbor whilst minimizing exposure to tax, immigration risk etc.
• Plan proactively for delays, particularly where immigration outcomes are tied to project start dates or regulatory deadlines.
• Encourage employees to follow only verified government or consular sources.
• Review policy provisions for assignees and localized employees. Determine and communicate business position on:
  • Supporting emergency shelter, travel/relocation
  • Advice on support issued to employee families and dependants
  • Updates to hardship, emergency, danger and relocation pay/allowances
  • Transparency on responsibility to pay any taxes that arise in temporary jurisdictions
  • Policy for temporary remote‑work and relocation, and associated business support.

FAQs: Key Questions from Impacted Employees

I want to return to Ireland, what are my options?

For Irish citizens, please liaise with airlines or travel agencies for updates. You should refer to the guidance from the Irish Consular services. 

For Irish residents, you should have a valid permission to return to Ireland. Non-EEA nationals should have a valid entry visa or Irish residence permit.  For UK, EU or EEA nationals who are resident in Ireland, you should register with your local Consular support for your country to assist you with returning to Ireland and then book onward travel to Ireland. 

Do I need to complete an immigration process to work in Ireland?

Irish, EU/EEA and UK nationals have an automatic right to work in Ireland. For non-EEA nationals, a valid employment permit and/or entry visa may be required to come to work in Ireland. The process to apply for an Irish employment permit can take 4-8 weeks and processing of Irish entry visas can take 4-12 weeks. All processing times are subject to change. 

I am an Irish expat living in the Dubai and I want to return to Ireland with my child and spouse. My child and I are Irish citizens but my spouse is from the UAE. How do we return to Ireland?

You and your child can return to Ireland as Irish citizens. As a citizen of the UAE, your spouse can seek entry to Ireland as the spouse of an Irish national. Your spouse does not need to apply for an entry visa to travel to Ireland and should clear immigration on arrival. Once in Ireland, your spouse needs to register with the Immigration Service Delivery Unit as the spouse of an Irish national to get the relevant Irish Residence Permit.

I am an Irish expat living in Saudi Arabia and want to return to Ireland with my spouse who is from KSA. How soon can we go to Ireland?

If your spouse holds a valid Irish entry visa, you can travel to Ireland once you have purchased flights. If your spouse does not hold a valid Irish entry visa, they will need to apply directly to the Irish Embassy at one of the nominated Visa Facilitation Offices.

I can’t return to my home country right now.  Can I work remotely whilst in the Middle East?

The right to work remotely depends on the rules of where are you based.  Find out more in EY’s Global immigration index for digital nomads and remote workers

What immigration documents do I need to return to Ireland?

Irish, UK and EEA/EU nationals can travel to Ireland with a valid passport or passport card.  If you a non-EEA national living in Ireland, you will need to hold a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card to enter Ireland.

If you haven’t resided in Ireland previously, you will need to obtain relevant immigration permission based on your circumstances. 

What if I’m abroad and urgently need a visa to return to Ireland?

If you are a visa‑required national outside Ireland and need a visa to return, you must contact the nearest Irish Embassy, Visa Office or Consulate to apply for a relevant entry visa.

Will I be taxed on my employment income in Ireland if I return and work here for a short period of time?

Your tax position can be complex and you should seek advice on this as it may depend on your residence and domicile status.  However, as a rule of thumb if you are resident overseas and work for and are paid by a non Irish employer you will generally not be taxed on your employment income for the first 30 workdays in Ireland and that may be extended to up to 60 workdays if you are from a country with a Double Tax Treaty with Ireland.  By applying for a dispensation from Irish Revenue it may be possible to be exempt from Irish employment taxes if present for less than 183 days in the calendar year.  As advised, this is complex so please take advice on your individual position.