'900 days of joy'; Dubai introduces five-year multiple-entry visa for Indian citizens

DUBAI: UAE has been issuing five-year multiple-entry visas to tourists from many countries for the past two years. It was amidst this that some Indian news media reported about UAE mulling plans to introduce new multiple-entry visas, especially for Indian citizens. And now, ending all the quibbles, the officials have come up with a response.

It was in 2021 that the UAE started introducing a five-year multiple entry visa to foreign country citizens. And now, the multiple entry visa has been introduced to Indians too. Officials say that Dubai has issued a five-year multiple-entry visa to increase travel between India and the Gulf region.

Indian travellers applying for this visa category can visit the UAE more than once in five years. Indians can stay in the country for a maximum of 180 days per year. This visa allows you to stay in the UAE for up to 900 days within a span of five years, though the total 900 days would have to be completed on a term basis(180 days). A multiple-entry visa is also characterized by the fact that it will be available within 48 hours of applying for the visa.

According to the Department of Tourism, the new scheme has been introduced following a surge in the number of visitors from India during the period from January to December 2023. In 2023, Dubai received 2.46 million visitors from India. Last year it was 1.84 million and in 2019, the country received 1.97 million Indian visitors to the country.

Officials of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism also participated in the travel expo held in Mumbai last week. The program also clarified more about multiple entry visas. The regional head of Dubai's Economy and Tourism Department, Badr Al Habib, shared on social media that the response to this visa from India in the last two years has been surprising.

“The five-year multiple entry visa initiative deepens the UAE's existing relationship with India. This historical landmark opens the door to new experiences for Indian tourists. And the new project becomes a platform for increasing the economic cooperation between the two countries” - said Badr Al Habib.