Berlin: Hilal Saeed Al Merri, Director of Department of Tourism and Commerce in Dubai (DTCM), said on Thursday that the decision to exempt 13 European countries from entry visas is a step that will have a very positive effect on Dubai as a tourism destination.
Speaking on the sidelines of International Tourism Bourse (ITB) Berlin — the world’s largest tourism exhibition — Al Merri pointed out that exempting all EU nations from entry visa requirements will help enhance Dubai’s position as a meeting point between businessmen from the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Europe.
He indicated that in 2013 that around 2.8 million European tourists checked into hotels in Dubai.
“As we work towards our target of welcoming 20 million visitors per year by 2020, DTCM will continue to work with partners in the government and the private sector to ensure that Dubai’s destination offering is continually enhanced,” Al Merri said.
With citizens of 15 EU member states already being exempted, the announcement of the addition of 13 states means that now all citizens of the EU countries holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter the UAE without a pre-entry visa.
The move comes just days after the EU parliament exempted Emiratis from requiring a pre-entry visa to EU’s 28 member-states.
