MoFA Launches ‘Ounak’: Everything Emirati Travelers Need to Know Before Flying Out

The UAE MoFA has launched a new initiative for its citizens, Ounak – the Emirati Traveller Services Card, a digital platform that grants easier access for UAE citizens to consular protection and travel assistance in foreign countries.

The service integrates the emergency response, travel and diplomatic assistance in the digital world. QR-code access points are located at key departure points such as Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai International Airport to ensure easy entry prior to citizens’ departure from the UAE.

What Is Ounak?

Ounak is created to enable Emirati travellers to communicate with the UAE diplomatic mission and the support teams of their respective MoFAs. The service will help citizens facing crises like being lost or injured, with security issues or major disruptions while abroad.

One of its features is that it integrates with the UAE’s overseas travel registration platform Twajudi. By allowing the relevant authorities to have access to important travel information and to have better means of communicating with the population in the event of emergency, registration is of great value.

Key Features for Emirati Travelers

The service offers a number of useful practical tools for citizens traveling towards and through other countries. These include accessing the travel warnings of their intended destinations, contact numbers and emergency assistance information of the embassies.

Additionally, MoFA offers a 24/7 emergency-service telephone number for travelers, 00971 80024. The system is designed to facilitate timely and suitable support in the event that citizens make it too difficult in foreign country.

One of the benefits which has been emphasized by the campaign is fast electronic return document aid. This is especially beneficial if the possibility of losing the Emirati passport, theft, or when it expires overseas bogs down the process.

How to Use Ounak Before Flying?

This can be done by using specific QR code structures in the airports that have entered the program, or by using MoFA’s digital channels. Once an established service is opened, citizens should check their destination information and consular resources available to them within the establishment.

Next, the shipment of the remaining details of the Twajudi record for shipping and recurrence are to be completed or revised. Passengers are advised to ensure that their destination and itinerary and accompanying information about the family is correct so that they will be reachable by the authorities if the situation dictates.

Citizens will also want to check the following destination advisories before travel: Entry requirements, local regulations, health advice, and embassy contacts. Adding an emergency hot line to a cell phone can add another level of preparedness.

Why Does Digital Consular Protection Matters?

When traveling internationally, there are unexpected situations, especially during political tension, in the event of a natural disaster or if there is a medical emergency. Digital consular systems can support governments in diverse ways of communicating with citizens and organize the provision of assistance by diplomatic missions more efficiently.

From Emirati travellers’ perspective, Ounak is an additional advancement of the UAE’s digital journey in provisioning for government services. The venture will center on creating one convenient system for travel and emergency technology to allow for easier travel abroad as well as make it safer.

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