Dubai: Canadians can now enter the UAE without applying for a visa in advance, a senior official from the Ministry of Interior said.
The official said the scheme came into effect on June 1.
“The revocation of the visa-in-advance scheme reverts to the previous position of a visa-on-arrival for Canadians,” the official said.
The official said that previously only GCC nationals and citizens of 32 countries did not require visas prior to arrival to the UAE.
Those countries are Australia, Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Vatican. The visa is valid for 30 days, renewable once.
All other nationalities require a visa and a sponsor for their visa.
The UAE dropped Canada from the list of countries whose citizens can obtain a free visit visa on arrival in January 2011.
Emran, a Canadian of Pakistani origin, who has lived and worked in Dubai since 2005 said the decision would make it easier and less costly for him to bring his family on a visit visa to the UAE.
“I have four children and a wife and obtaining visas for them to come to Dubai is very costly.”
Kamel, a Canadian national, who is a regular visitor to the UAE appreciated this step saying that it will make it easier for him and his family to come to the UAE.
“It was not that difficult for me to get a visit or tourist visa to the UAE but now it is visa-free which is more easy and comfortable,” he said.
