Government

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a new visa-on-arrival policy for Indian travelers, further enhancing the strong ties between the two nations. Starting from now, Indian passport holders can easily obtain a visa upon arrival at any UAE port of entry, a move aimed at simplifying travel and fostering closer cultural and economic relations.

The new policy offers two visa options for Indian nationals: a 14-day visa, extendable for an additional 14 days, or a 60-day non-extendable visa. Travelers opting for this facility must ensure that their passports are valid for at least six months from the date of entry. The visa-on-arrival service is also available to individuals with permanent residency, green cards, or valid visas from the United States, the United Kingdom, or any European Union country.

This development builds on previous initiatives to ease travel between the UAE and India. In February 2023, Emirates airline partnered with VFS Global to introduce a pre-approved visa-on-arrival service for Indian passport holders, eliminating the need for long immigration queues. Additionally, Dubai implemented a five-year multiple-entry visa for Indian nationals as part of efforts to boost commercial and tourist exchanges.

India continues to be a major source of tourists for Dubai, with over 2.46 million Indian visitors in 2023, marking a 25% increase from pre-pandemic levels. This surge has solidified India’s position as the largest source market for Dubai’s tourism industry.

The new visa policies are expected to further increase the flow of Indian tourists to the UAE, strengthening the relationship between the two countries and supporting their shared growth in tourism, business, and culture.

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