While the UAE is attempting to go global, there are still 115 countries that need to acquire a visa before visiting the Emirates.
The UAE has good news for travelers with ordinary passports, as its Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday that citizens from 82 countries can travel to the UAE without a prior visa.
According to the announcements, the ministry has requested interested visitors to check the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see which countries are eligible for the exemption. Visitors can get two kinds of visas: a 30-day visa that can be extended for ten more days or a 90-day visa. Some countries that will enjoy visa exemptions in the UAE include Barbados, the Republic of Albania, Canada, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Japan, and the Italian Republic.
Additionally, citizens of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, can enter without a visa or a sponsor, as stated by the United Arab Emirates Digital Government (UAE DGov). However, they would have to present a passport or an ID card issued by any GCC country at any point of entry. Including the UAE, there are six GCC countries.
Indians holding an ordinary passport can get a visa on arrival for up to 14 days, and if required, they can apply to extend their tenure by 14 days. However, there is a catch! These Indian citizens must have a visitor visa, green card, or permanent residency card issued by the United Kingdom, any EU country or the United States. Additionally, the passports of such visitors must be valid for at least six months after entering the country.
While the UAE is attempting to go global, there are still 115 countries that need to acquire a visa before visiting the Emirates. Visitors from these places will need an entry permit issued by their sponsor before they enter the country. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs will issue the entry permit, which will be based on the purpose of the visit to the UAE. Some of these countries are Jamaica, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Mongolia, the Kingdom of Bhutan, and the Kingdom of Morocco.
As per the Passport Index website, the United Arab Emirates passport ranks number one, and it is the most powerful in the world, allowing its holders to easily travel to 180 countries, where 127 countries do not need visas in advance, and 53 countries offer e-visa or visas on arrival. Those planning to travel to the UAE can also check the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to get visa-related details. Airlines can also help travelers in this regard.
In early 2023, the UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, stated that the country is expected to grow faster than the global average in 2023 as the UAE joined the 7 percent growth club. Tourism can be a prime non-oil profit-generating center for the country. The new visa policies can be a game changer for international collaborations and open new doors for the UAE.
