Tourists planning to head to Dubai will be subject to additional requirements when applying for a tourist visa.
In a bid to enhance security, authorities in Dubai have announced that travellers are now required to provide proof of confirmed hotel bookings and return flight tickets in order to obtain a tourist visa, VisaGuide.World reports.
The new changes, according to authorities in Dubai, have been implemented in a bid to regulate the increasing number of visitors while ensuring compliance with visa regulations.
New Visa Requirements for Tourists
The main requirements for tourists, according to a report from Travel Biz, are the following ones:
Booking confirmation in a hotel
Applicants are required to present valid proof of accommodation, such as a confirmed hotel reservation.
Those planning to stay with friends or family must submit additional documentation, also taking into account proof of the host’s residency.
Return flight ticket
In a bid to travel to Dubai, travellers are also required to hold a confirmed return ticket.
Authorities in Dubai have said that open-ended or one-way tickets will not be accepted and may result in the rejection of the visa application.
The new changes aim to prevent overstaying, manage tourist influx and enhance the travel experience by encouraging pre-planned itineraries.
New Financial Requirement
Among the new changes applied by authorities in Dubai is also a new financial proof requirement.
Those planning to apply for a visa in order to head to Dubai are required to show they have sufficient funds through their credit or debit cards.
The financial threshold is set at:
- For a two-month visa 5,000 Dirhams ($1,360)
- For a three-month visa 3,000 Dirhams ($816)
According to a report from the Times of India, in spite of the fact that the main goal of the new changes is to guarantee that guests have the resources to sustain their stay, some reports have indicated that some applicants have experienced delays due to difficulties in meeting these requirements.
Indian Passengers Heading to Dubai
When it comes to Indian travellers, they have various options to choose from for travelling to Dubai, depending on their purposes and needs, among them the following ones:
Visa-on-arrival: Indians who meet specific conditions, like holding a current visa or residency permit from the United Kingdom or European Union, are entitled to a 14-day visa. This visa can be extended for an additional 14 days.
In addition, recently, a five-year multiple-entry visa has been introduced in order to promote frequent travel for both work and pleasure.
Each year, Dubai welcomes a large number of foreign nationals. Statistics from the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai revealed that in the first seven months of 2024, a total of 10.62 million tourists were registered in this city.
The figures account for an increase of eight percent compared to the same period in 2023, during which a total of 9.83 million foreign visitors were registered.