In an effort to enhance tourism flow from India, Dubai’s Economy and Tourism Department has launched a 5-year multiple entry visa for Indians. India is the leading source market for international visitors to Dubai. The new visa will make it easier than ever for tourists to stay in the the UAE and only requires a few business days to process.
In 2023, Indian tourists accounted for 2.46 million overnight stays in the UAE, which means a 25% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. Overall, a 34% year-on-year increase can be noted, underlining the importance for the UAE to maintain its relationship with India.
“As a key market for Dubai, India will continue to play an integral role in enabling us to achieve the goals of the D33 Agenda, further reinforcing Dubai’s position as a hub for business, investment and tourism,” said Bader Ali Habib, regional head of proximity markets at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. The D33 Agenda has “the ambitious goals of doubling the size of Dubai’s economy over the next decade, and reinforce its position amongst the top 3 global cities.”
Therefore, the Economy and Tourism Department of Dubai is introducing a special 5-year multiple entry visa for Indian citizens, which will be usable both for business and leisure purposes. The visa is issued within two to five working days upon receiving and accepting the request and allows its holder to stay in the country for up to 90 days. This period can be extended once for another 90 days, with a total stay that shouldn’t exceed 180 days per year.
In order to apply for the new visa, travellers have to present a passport which is valid for at least six months, a six month bank statement showing a minimum of 4,000 dollars in funds, health insurance, return flight tickets and a picture.
According to Habib, the visa underlines once again the close ties between the two countries. “It is also a testament to Dubai’s commitment to India and the infinite possibilities that can be explored between the UAE and the sub-continent. With exceptional flight connectivity and our ongoing commitment to the Indian market, we are confident that our upcoming initiatives will further amplify awareness about Dubai’s diverse offerings, multicultural setting, and abundance of hotels and attractions, continuing to make it the top travel choice for Indian tourists”, he added.
Since January 2014, a bilateral air service agreement has been put in place between the UAE and India. This allows airlines from both countries to operate a maximum of 66,000 seats per week between Dubai and India, a quota which has been maximised by airlines from both nations.
