The United Arab Emirates Immigration Department has tightened controls at the country’s airports following new guidelines to identify those who arrive in the country on visiting visas with the intention to work there.
This is the first time that authorities in the UAE have implemented such strict measures for international travelers, VisaGuide.World reports.
Airlines are strictly enforcing guidelines urging passengers on visiting visas to have hotel booking documents and 5,000 dirhams to cover their expenses. If failing to meet the new requirements, airlines are warned to be subject to 5,000 dirhams per travelers without holding valid documents.
Among the guidelines issued by the immigration authorities for those reaching Dubai on a visiting visa are:
- Airport officials are required to ask passengers about their visit’s purpose, accommodation, as well as funds for expenses.
- Tourists and visiting visa holders are not allowed to work in the UAE. Travel agencies cannot promise employment to visiting visa holders.
- Holders of UAE employment visas are required to complete visa procedures on their entry permits, allowing them to legally work in this country.
- Tourists are obliged to provide hotel details, a return ticket and funds to cover their expenses
- Visitors to relatives or friends are required to provide copies of their visa and passport, and their address, phone number, and accommodation details
Increased Number of Detentions in UAE Airports Leads to Stricter Measures
New guidelines introduced by the UAE authorities come after numerous travelers from Kerala’s Kottayam and Idukki districts were detained due to the lack of required travel documents.
Authorities in the UAE said that strict controls began at Kerala’s Kochi and Kozhikode airports, following detentions in the UAE.
According to an Onmanorama report, more than 20 passengers were stopped from boarding flights at Cochin International Airport on Wednesday alone. At the same time, up to five passengers are denied travel daily at Calicut International Airport. In order to date, at least 30 passengers in Kozhikode were obliged to cancel their trips.
Over 134 Million Passengers in 2023
More than 134 million passengers were welcomed in the UAE airports in 2023, according to Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director-general of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
In addition, for this year Al Suwaidi said that a total of 140 million people are expected to visit the UAE this year.
According to Al Suwaidi, in 2023, the UAE’s airports saw 38 million arrivals and 37.805 million departures. In addition, they registered a total of 58.328 million transit passengers.