UAE's multiple entry tourist visa: Travel made easier for expat families

Dubai - The new visa schemes are the latest in a string of reforms announced recently.

The UAE cabinet’s decision to approve a multiple entry tourist visa for all nationalities is being hailed as a blessing for expatriate families and business travellers.

Also read:

2 new UAE visas for tourists, remote work: All we know so far

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said the cabinet approved the launch of the new visa on Twitter. The UAE had first announced multiple entry visit visas for tourists in January last year.

Sheikh Mohammed had said then that the first-of-its-kind visa is aimed at establishing the UAE as a major ‘global tourism destination’.

The new list of regulations and visas announced following the cabinet meeting on Sunday aims to “strengthen the UAE’s status as a global economic capital”, said the Dubai ruler. The new visa schemes are the latest in a string of reforms announced recently to boost the economy and help investors, entrepreneurs, qualified individuals and families.

Heads of tourism companies and experts in the travel industry have said the long-term visa for tourists will bolster the weak performing tourism sector. It will also benefit families who make frequent trips to the UAE to meet with their loved ones.

“Once implemented, those who travel to the UAE frequently to meet with their loved ones will definitely benefit from it. For example, aged parents of residents, children who study abroad, and such categories of families will surely benefit from it. Costs of constantly applying for visit visas will also be cut down for expatriates,” said Afi Ahmed, the managing director of Smart Travels.

TP Sudheesh, the general manager of Deira Travel and Tourist Agency said, “It will definitely benefit high-income expatriates and frequent travellers. Business travellers who want to travel into the UAE at a moment’s notice will just have to take their passports and leave. The hassle of having to repeatedly apply for visit visas are not there any longer. This provides them with easy accessibility for longer periods of time.”

It will also strengthen business and tourism travellers and strengthen the economic outset of the tourism sector, said business leaders. Kamal Vachani, group director of Al Maya Group, said that the newly approved multiple entry tourist visa for all nationalities is a remarkable step taken by Sheikh Mohammed. “It will definitely strengthen the UAE’s status as a global economic capital by bringing more tourists as well as investors,” said Vachani

“It is going to be a big relief for the frequent business travellers as they would not to apply again and again for each trip to the UAE. It will be a big boost in terms of ease of doing business. It will further boost the tourism in the country. These visa reforms will also help entrepreneurs, qualified individuals and their families,” he stated.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai