UAE | General

Kish ordeal: Expect the unexpected

Gulf News reporter's first-hand account of their brush with authority in Kish.

  • By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 12:38 October 28, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • UAE visa applicants arriving in Kish. Recruiters expect that people will stop coming on tourist visas to search for jobs.
  • Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
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We were totally unprepared for what happened next after an interesting tour of the historical sites of this free zone.

The representative from the Ministry of International Affairs said an immigration officer would like to meet us.

"This is where the visitors come to extend their stay on the island," she said, as we waited in the lobby of the building. Visitors to Kish are given a 14-day free visa on arrival.

Video: Click here to watch visa-runners stranded in Kish

After that period you pay Dh80 for an extension which can be up from one month to three months, at the discretion of the immigration office.

The officer wore a green uniform and had the words 'Police' embossed on his sleeve. He had four stars on his shoulder. He got up from his chair, came across and shook hands with us.

Outside his office there was a sign that said: "Welcome to the beautiful, visa-free Kish Island". What caught my eye was this sentence: "On your arrival, the officer of Foreign Nationals Affairs Management Department of Disciplinary Force, will stamp entry on your passport..."

The immigration officer got into an intense conversation with the representative from the Ministry of International Affairs, who was translating for us.

After some time she asked us: "Have you taken any pictures?"

I said, "Yes, just with our mobile phones."

"Rizwan would like to know how you came here without any coordination with the Ministry of Culture?"

Ashraf Helmi, Web Video Editor, said we had come in as tourists and when we saw the people who were stranded because of visa issues, we decided to do a story. "You need to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture before you come here and write anything," she replied.

"How can we get such a permission," I asked.

"Where are your passports? Rizwan will show you how to coordinate," she said.

Then suddenly, it was all smiles and chocolates on his table were passed around.

We were taken to a restaurant designed like a cave and fed a sumptuous lunch.

Then just as we thought everything was sorted out, we were again taken back to the immigration office. This time we were made to wait outside.

After some time the officer asked Senior Photographer, Hadrian Hernandez, to show him the pictures. He was told the pictures had been erased.

We were told to get our passports from the hotel, but when we went there the receptionist said the police had already taken our passports.

When we went back we were told to sign a declaration that we will not use the pictures or write anything before we first get permission. I asked for a copy of the declaration, but was refused.

The plane was supposed to take off in 20 minutes, so we quickly signed the declaration which was written on a scrap of paper in English.

We were then given our passports and escorted to the airport.

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