Ras Al Khaimah: The RAK Naturalisation and Residency Department called on Emiratis and expatriates interested in crossing the border to Oman for their vacation there to present valid passports, ID cards, and vehicle registration cards.

A senior police officer at the department said failure to present the required documentation would result in would-be holidaymakers being barred from crossing the border.

An average of 10,000 to 15,000 people have crossed the UAE-Oman border — the Ras Al Darah Border Checkpoint — from both sides daily, in the period from when the Eid Al Adha holiday started and stretching on till the UAE National Day holiday.

Ras Al Darah Border Checkpoint has functioned at full capacity with the four lanes on each side being fully operational.

The number of passengers from the UAE, crossing into Oman to spend their vacation, has been almost been double the numbers of Omanis coming to the UAE.

Quick service

The immigration officer at the Ras Al Darah Border Checkpoint has been given strict instructions to complete the official procedures as soon as possible for anyone wishing to cross the border.

A police officer said it would only take a minute or two to complete the processing of valid official documents.

The officer said that in many cases, would-be holidaymakers had been turned back at the border checkpoint. He added that they included Emiratis who did not have National ID cards or passports.

He said some Emiratis were ordered to turn back as their passports were invalid, while some expatriates were turned back owing to expired passports or expired residency visas.