Saudi Arabia is allowing stranded Emirates to exit the country without passports. The Emirates were stranded after the county issued a new rule requiring the use of passports, rather than ID cards, when travelling. The rule has been relaxed so the travelers can return home. Many were not able to pass through the Al Ghwaifat checkpoint until Tuesday when the restriction was eased. Saudi Arabia announced on Friday they would no longer recognize UAE identity cards because the map on the ID card did not correspond with the agreed border in 1974. .
Director of the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “The ministry has issued instructions to the UAE embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh and its consular general in Jeddah to issue return travel documents to the UAE citizens who arrived in the Kingdom by land. “
