New visa laws 'not to blame' for stranded thousands

A top UAE official has denied that an amendment made to the country's visa laws is to blame for leaving thousands of people stranded in neighbouring countries.

Brigadier Nasser Al Awadhi Al Manhali, acting director general of the Naturalisation and Residency Department, said the decision to change the rules regarding residency visa offered "the best services to those seeking entry visas to the UAE".

New visas can now only be issued to an applicant 30 days after their departure from the UAE.

He reiterated that the Ministry of Interior was keen to prevent manipulation of visit visas, or illegal stay in the country, adding that the recent amendments were in the best interest of the applicants, reported news agency WAM.

Al Manhali denied that the decision had triggered the difficulties being experienced by thousands of stranded people in Iran and Oman, waiting for their visas.

Almost half of the 6,000 Filipinos have returned to Dubai after receiving their 30-day visas, according to the Philippine embassy in the UAE.

However, thousands are still stuck in the two countries with dozens of them forced to stay in cramped hotel rooms.

Under the new regulations, tourist visas are now open to all nationalities, allowing them to stay 30 days in the country from the date of entry.

Previously, the tourist visas were issued to only 79 nationalities.

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