Visa changes under fire at city airport

VISA CONFUSION: People at Dubai International Airport say they are confused by the new rules.

Criticism has been levelled at the UAE’s new visa regulations which came into force this week.

Some residents and visitors applying for visas at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday told Arabian Business they were unclear about the system.

The regulations affect nationals from countries not exempt under the changes including parts of Eastern and Southern Europe, parts of Asia, Africa and Central and South America.

People from non-exempt countries entering the UAE must now apply for a tourist visa, through a registered tourist company or hotel, a visit visa sponsored by a direct relative living in the UAE, or one of 14 other visa types, such as a conference or a medical visit visa.

South African expatriate Deon Rossouw, a safety manager who has lived in Dubai for two years, said the new system would have meant his fiancée Bijanka would not be granted a visa to visit from South Africa as they were not direct relatives.

Mr Rossouw said: “She will be coming here under the old rules but the new visa rules mean you cannot bring friends in.

“They should be strict on who comes in but not when it’s a future family member.”

Pharmacist John Raju, who moved to Dubai from his native India 12 years ago and who was applying for a visa for a colleague, said: “It is not very clear what the rules are.  

“But they are challenging more people coming here and it’s good as there should be a higher standard of people entering the UAE.”

The rules, from which 33 nations are exempted, are aimed at providing officials with more details about people entering the country and clamping down on illegals in the UAE.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration in Dubai said the changes were simple and if anyone was unsure they could phone customer services.


Confusion on day 1 over new visa changes
Airport officials 'apply regulations inconsistently during first day'.

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (3)

Have your say

Confused on New Rules
Posted by Narciso Beltran, Manila, Philippines on Tuesday 5 August 2008 at 10:56 UAE time


I've heard that UAE are bringing back the old rules. Is this true?

Visa exemption for 33 nations
Posted by Maria DSouza, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 31 July 2008 at 21:49 UAE time


My daughter a green card holder is intending to visit Dubai for 3 months along with her 2 year old son USA citizen. According to the new rule he will be allowed to enter the country for one month free of charge. Second month his visa will be renewed on payment basis. What about 3rd month. Since he is a minor can he stay with mother for 3 months?

New UAE Visa Rules
Posted by Manish, Doha, Qatar on Thursday 31 July 2008 at 18:25 UAE time

What do the new rules say if expatriates from Gulf countries like myself from Qatar wamts to visit Dubai as tourist. If we don't have direct relatives & we dont want to go through Hotels etc we want to visit UAE n our own thats whats the provision?

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM