The UAE has been one of the favourite destinations for Indian tourists as well as businesses over the years. Not to mention, it is the favourite transit point for Indians too, who frequently fly Emirates or Etihad via the UAE to the US or Europe and other places. However, India was one of the countries where you still needed a Visa in advance of your arrival to the UAE.
This is however going to change very soon. As per the UAE News Agency,
The UAE Cabinet has approved a decision to grant Indian passport holders with either a valid US visa or a green card a visa on arrival.
Under the new move, ordinary passport holders from India who have a US visa or green card with a minimum six-month validity can enter the country from any point of entry for a period of 14 days, with an option for a one-time extension of the same period.
This is great news, since the country is trying to compete perhaps with Qatar which also has 96 hours free visa for Indians to transit. My own experience with getting a transit visa in the UAE was not so great, and I’m hoping that with this option going live, life becomes easier to transit or stay over in the UAE while making a longer trip abroad. The UAE already sees a spurt in Chinese and Russian tourists after they got granted the Visa on Arrival.
Why the US visaholders only you ask? I guess UAE is banking on the fact that the USA has already done their due diligence on all these people so they must be safe to let into the UAE. Maybe they could add Schengen, UK, etc. in the mix, but USA usually approves a 10-year long visa and other countries not so much.
The date on which this goes live is yet not announced, but should not be too long.
Anybody else excited about the move of the UAE to provide visa-on-arrival to Indians?
Planning to visit Abu Dhabi during Diwali for 96 hours …! Did anyone try this 96 hours visa for Indians holding valid USA visa?
Seems it’s gonna be implemented from May 1, with entry permit costing 100 Dirham.
Not sure if the airlines are ready with “Ok to board”.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/indians-with-us-visas-to-receive-visa-on-arrival-in-uae/articleshow/58362265.cms
@Ajay Thanks! I’ll try to engineer a 1-2 day break next time. This will also mean that I’ll be in much better shape upon arrival in India rather than half-dead from exhaustion, so a good deal on all fronts!
By the way I agree with others that a minor tweaking of the headline will improve clarity. Something like: “Indians with US Visa or Green Card to get VOA in UAE”. After all, that’s what it is. 🙂
By your set-theortic reasoning you could also say “Asians, Africans, and Micronesians”, because Indians with US visa are a subset of that set too, but it will be a muddy formulation.
In all communications, mere presence of information is not sufficient, we must also minimize noise. You instinctively do it when you name a specific bank, airline, or a travel destination, instead of some vague superset.
Ajay,
Sorry to say but the headline is misleading. I had my hopes raised up when I read the headline, but the US Visa/Green card is not applicable to everyone.
@Neil, The policy is for Indians. Those who will have a US visa will be a subset of it, right?
Hi Ajay,
Agree with Niel.
Hate to point out but this is a clickbaity headline. Don’t you think a better worded one could be “Indians with valid US Visas/GC to get UAE Visa On Arrival” or something on those lines?
Your chosen title might lead others (those who just scan headlines) to believe that its applicable to all Indians (irrespective of their US visa status).
I don’t mean to be rude/picky. Been a long time reader of your this blog and love it!
Cheers,
Does it have a condition to have onward flight to the US?
@Anubhav, no, this one is not linked to a trip to the USA
What if I have a US Visa but my family doesn’t and we are traveling together? Do you think they will also be granted Visa on Arrival?
@Amar no, you don’t get to bring them to the UAE
I don’t know if excited is the right word, but I would welcome the opportunity to break the journey for 1-2 days. If someone is not interested in shopping but only normal sight-seeing, how many days do you need in Abu Dhabi or Dubai to so it comfortably?
@Aktchi, Abu Dhabi is a 2 day stop in my book if you want to see everything they have. Else just a visit to the mosque is a few hours affair. Dubai has a lot and could spend a week there too 🙂
Me me! Considering the fact that I transit through UAE twice a year between USA and India, it’ll be great to explore Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates.
Hope they roll this out soon before my trip.