UAE issues new entry rules, ends practice of visa-runs

STANDING IN LINE: The new rules are designed to boost tourism but also end the visa-run option. (Getty Images)

Visitors wishing to visit UAE must from now on apply for tourist visas, it was reported on Wednesday.

The new regulations replace the old 'visit' visa option available to citizens of 79 countries, including the sub-continent and most of the Middle East, the UAE daily Gulf News quoted Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al-Merri, Director General of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) as saying.

People applying for a visa will have to pay a refundable deposit of 1,000 dirhams ($272) with separate visas issued for, for example, medical treatment or study, the report added.

"We will know why each person is coming here for and the sponsor will be responsible for the visitor. This will address the issue of illegal overstayers," Al-Merri said.

Additionally, the 34 nationalities who were previously able to obtain a free visit visa for 60 days upon arrival in the UAE will now have to pay 100 dirhams for a 30-day visa, according to the new rules, the report added.

The DNRD and the Economic Department met with representatives of hotels, tourist agencies, hospitals and educational institutions on Wednesday to brief them on the new federal visa changes and how they will be implemented.

Visa runs to Kish Island, Oman and other neighbouring countries have also been stopped. People wanting to change their visas must return to their home countries.

"Nobody can now go on these visa runs. We don't want people to get stuck [on these trips]," said Al-Merri.

Visa applicants coming back from any of the neighbouring countries of the UAE will have their applications rejected.

A visit visa will also not be converted into a work visa, Al-Merri said: "Applicants will have to go back to their home country and wait for the work visa, which will be authorised by the Ministry of Labour," he said.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Visit Visa Rules
Posted by gilbert, miami, united state of america on Monday 11 August 2008 at 16:34 UAE time


im not yet come to this country but many of my friends are affected by this new rules, some of them are always visiting this country because of business matters,.. but they are really disappointed.

New Visa Rules
Posted by Anonymous, Dubai, UAE on Monday 11 August 2008 at 15:36 UAE time


It would be appreciated by many if the new law was at least extended so that the spouse could choose their country of origin to either their wife or husbands country of origin. As there are people who have not been to their country of origin in 20 years due to loss of parents and no other family or friends living in their country of origin. They will not even have somewhere to stay while they wait for the visa and their only option will be to stay in a hotel in a country they were born in but have not made a home in and are in fact complete foreigners.

whats the point??
Posted by Taqi Mohammed kabeer, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 3 August 2008 at 17:34 UAE time

All our "comments" will make no difference to the "decision-makers",
they are bent on "bending the rules", which we all know for sure will be implemented no matter how much we scream!!!
It's nice to have these "discussion rooms" where we can vent our ire!!

Visit Visa
Posted by jan, pasay, Philippines on Friday 1 August 2008 at 10:23 UAE time

How many people are working in Dubai right now under visit visa?

And will they go back to their country of origin to wait for the proper visa?

Who will pay for the hassle?

The way I see it is businesses will lose money, loose man-hours too much and are they willing to abide by it?

I want to go to dubai to look for work but apparently some other countries are looking more nice already....

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