Earlier, Arsenal held on for a pulsating 3-2 win over arch rivals Tottenham
The visa announcement was made by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on January 6.
Residents who spoke to Khaleej Times said there were many benefits of a five-year multi-entry visa for them and their relatives who visit them several times a year.
An Indian expat, Gulnaz Arab, said her relatives visit her Dubai home three to four times each year.
"This is a great initiative that will provide ease to expats like us who have regular visitors from India," she said. "Applying for a 30-day visa costs Dh300 per person and takes four to five days to process. With this new rule, our family can join us whenever they want without processing a tourist visa every time.
Priya Nombiar, another Indian expat, hosts her parents and her husband's parents in their Dubai home once a year.
They pay for four tourist visas each year and sometimes their parents stay for one month or up to three months.
"I'm happy about this new announcement because it means our parents can visit us whenever they want," she said. "We won't have to worry about re-applying each year - with the repeated cost factor gone, it will also help us save."
For one Pakistani resident, Zohaib Ahmed Chaudhry, the new visa means cost-efficiency and convenience for job-seekers.
"It will especially benefit job seekers as they usually get a three-month visa. Sometimes they're unable to get a job here, meaning they have to exit and re-enter. This can considerably raise their expenses, in turn demotivating them," he said.
"It's an excellent initiative. It's the first of its kind in the Middle East and, of course, Dubai is famous for being the trendsetter. This visa will allow a lot of young people to visit and explore this beautiful country - but were reluctant until now due to visa limitations."
Meanwhile, the Consul-General of the Philippines Consulate in Dubai, Paul Raymund Cortes, told KT: "This is a very positive development that reflects the confidence in the economy of the UAE and its capacity to attract great talent and minds from across the globe that feeds into the UAE's highly innovative and creative society."
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com
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